Turkey Breaks With Assad

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Turkey surprised international observers when it supported rebels in recent uprising in Syria. Turkey is harboring insurgents and political opponents of the Assad's regime as it readies unilateral sanctions against Syria. This signals in shift in supporting the various democratic Arab awakenings throughout the Middle East.
Turkey’s chasm with Syria reaffirms its commitment to NATO, who had began to question Turkeys role in the alliance.
In the face of the Arab Spring, Turkey is reassess its place in the new realities of the Middle East. Turkey had sought to ought new open new markets  and expand its influence in the region through a policy of non-confrontation with its neighbors. It disavowed democratic preconditions with economic partners like Syria and Iran in the past and this caused friction with NATO.
Source :http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/1103/Turkey-s-bold-about-face-on-Syria

Reliability (9)

Comments: Turkey’s break from its policy of “zero problems with neighbor” is a huge gamble with unknown consequences. Turkey is intertwined economically and diplomatically with Syria than any other state in the Middle East and this served as a template for relations with other problematic states like Greece and Iraq. Other states will observe carefully to determine whether this move by Turkey against Syria is an exception or a major policy shift.

Comments

  1. Sandy Hansmann11 November, 2011

    Helpful map and a nice, clear title, too. Good explanations of the many inter-country entanglements Turkey has!

    ReplyDelete

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