Turkey Emerges as Dominant Foreign Power in Syria, Undermining Iran’s Role
The Syrian civil war has made Turkey the leading foreign power in Syria as Iran’s influence wanes following Assad’s challenges. Turkey’s strategic interests focus on countering Kurdish groups and facilitating refugee returns. This shifting dynamic has significant implications for regional power relations, especially in Syria’s increasingly complex political landscape.
The Syrian civil war has substantially altered the geopolitical landscape in the region, particularly empowering Turkey as a formidable foreign actor, overshadowing Iran’s influence. With Bashar al-Assad’s regime facing increasing pressure from Turkey-backed rebel factions, Turkish dominance is now more pronounced. Historically, Iran has maintained a vested interest in keeping Assad in power to facilitate support for proxy groups like Hezbollah, while Russia benefitted from strategic military bases. Turkey, conversely, aimed to counter the influence of Kurdish groups such as the YPG and facilitate the return of Syrian refugees. Despite Turkey’s ascendance, experts suggest that Turkish-Iranian relations may not suffer a catastrophic decline due to shared strategic interests, albeit Iran’s efforts to regain standing in Syria remain apparent. As the conflict evolves, the Kurdish dimension will further complicate matters, given the waning U.S. support for Kurdish forces and shifting alliances within the Syrian landscape.
The ongoing Syrian civil war has seen a complex interplay of foreign influences, predominantly from regional powers such as Turkey, Iran, and Russia. Each of these nations has pursued its own strategic interests; Iran has sought to bolster the Assad regime to maintain a foothold for its regional proxy networks, while Turkey has aligned with opposition factions to promote a Syrian governance that reflects its interests. This struggle for dominance has intensified following significant shifts in the balance of power on the ground, particularly after Assad’s government faced new threats.
In summary, Turkey’s rise to preeminence in Syria amidst the diminishing role of Iran signifies a transformative shift in the region’s geopolitical dynamics. While Turkey’s influence grows stronger, the implications of this shift extend into the complex interactions among Turkey, Iran, and various Syrian factions, especially the Kurds. As these actors reassess their strategies, the future of Syrian governance remains uncertain, particularly regarding the Kurdish political landscape and ongoing conflicts between differing regional interests.
Original Source: www.eurasiareview.com
