{"id":39514,"date":"2025-05-19T13:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=39514"},"modified":"2025-05-20T05:05:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T05:05:49","slug":"trumps-lifting-of-syria-sanctions-is-a-win-for-turkey-too-pointing-to-outsized-role-middle-powers-can-play-in-regional-affairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/trumps-lifting-of-syria-sanctions-is-a-win-for-turkey-too-pointing-to-outsized-role-middle-powers-can-play-in-regional-affairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s lifting of Syria sanctions is a win for Turkey, too \u2013 pointing to outsized role middle powers can play in regional affairs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hyeran Jo<\/a>, Texas A&M University<\/a><\/em> and Ece G\u00f6ztepe \u00c7elebi<\/a>, Bilkent University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Donald Trump announced while in Saudi Arabia<\/a> on May 14, 2025, that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria<\/a>. The turnaround was a huge victory for the government of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa as he attempts to consolidate power nearly six months on from his movement\u2019s stunning toppling of the longtime regime of Bashar al Assad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it wasn\u2019t all down to Syria lobbying on its own behalf. In announcing the policy shift, Trump largely attributed the shift to his Saudi hosts as well as Turkey<\/a>. Both nations are longtime Assad foes who quickly championed al-Sharaa and have been pushing the U.S. to normalize ties with Syria\u2019s new government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey, whose resources and land have been heavily affected by instability in neighboring Syria, was particularly instrumental<\/a> in pushing Trump<\/a> to accept the post-Assad government, even over objections from Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As experts in international relations<\/a> and Turkish law and politics<\/a>, we believe the developments in Syria point to the outsized role a small-to-middle power like Turkey can have in regional and international matters. That is particularly true in the Middle East, where world powers such as the U.S. are perceived to have a declining and at times unpredictable<\/a> influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An opening in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After 13 years of devastating civil war<\/a>, Syria faces a slew of large challenges, including the immediate task of state building. Not only is violence still readily apparent in Syria itself \u2013 as the recent killing of Alawites<\/a>, allegedly<\/a> by government forces, or fighters aligned with them, showed \u2013 but neighboring Israel has also repeatedly attacked positions<\/a> in Syria in an attempt to weaken the new government. To Israel\u2019s government, a strong, militarized Syria would pose a threat, particularly in regard to the unstable border<\/a> at the Golan Heights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the issues that confront Syria\u2019s new government, it has nonetheless demonstrated<\/a> a remarkable aptitude for gaining international acceptance \u2013 a notable fact given al-Sharaa\u2019s leadership ties to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham<\/a>, a formerly al-Qaeda linked group listed<\/a> as one of the U.S. foreign terrorist organizations since 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey presses its influence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this context, Turkey\u2019s hand has been especially important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Trump took office, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has pressed<\/a> the American president to lift sanctions. The two men had struck up a strong relationship<\/a> during the first Trump administration, with the U.S. president declaring himself to be a \u201cbig fan<\/a>\u201d of the Turkish leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s behind-the-scenes diplomacy can be seen as part of its broader effort<\/a> to fill the vacuum left by Assad\u2019s fall. Doing so not only bolsters Erdogan\u2019s position as a regional player, but it also advances his domestic agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey has moved quickly on numerous fronts in charting the future course of Syria by pursuing economic and security projects<\/a> in the country. First and foremost, Turkey has upped its investment in Syria<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, as it did in Libya<\/a> and Somalia<\/a>, Turkey has contributed to the training<\/a> and equipping of new Syrian security forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the northeast Syrian province of Idlib, Turkey is funding education, health care and electricity, and the Turkish lira<\/a> is the de facto currency across northwestern Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The roots of these engagements lie in Turkey\u2019s interest in managing its own security situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1984, Turkey has been fighting Kurdish separatist groups, most notably the Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party, or PKK, which is aligned with the Kurdish YPG militia<\/a> in northeast Syria \u2013 one of the groups that fought Assad\u2019s forces during Syria\u2019s civil war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A Syrian Kurd waves the flag of YPG near Qamishli\u2019s airport in northeastern Syria on Dec. 8, 2024. Delil Souleiman\/AFP via Getty Images<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Assad\u2019s fall led to Russia\u2019s retreat<\/a> from Syria. Meanwhile, Iranian influence, too, has waned as a result of not only Assad\u2019s departure, but also the military downgrading of Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. And the U.S. no longer actively supports<\/a> the Kurdish YPG militia in northeast Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Into this void of external influence, Turkey quickly seized an opportunity to reshape the security landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ankara, which still controls large chunks of territory in Syria\u2019s northeast from the fight against Assad<\/a> and Syrian Kurdish groups, agreed to a Syrian plan<\/a> to incorporate the YPG, the armed wing of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, into the new Syrian army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Turkish perspective has long been that the fight against the PKK can succeed in the long run only with stability on Syrian soil. Now, the PKK is trying to reach peace<\/a> with the Turkish government, but whether the SDF in Syria will disarm and disband is far from certain<\/a>. As such, having a strong, stable Syrian government in which a Kurdish majority is accommodated may be in Ankara\u2019s best interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, al-Sharaa\u2019s success in rebuilding Syria after the civil war would also help Turkey on another front: the issue of Syrian refugees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey currently hosts around 3.2 million<\/a> refugees from Syria \u2013 the most of any country. The sheer number and length of stay of these displaced people have put a strain on Turkey\u2019s economy and social relations, leading to clashes<\/a> between Turks and Syrian refugees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also a broad consensus in Turkey that the Syrian refugee problem in Turkey can be solved only through a comprehensive return strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although naturalized Syrians in Turkey make up an important constituency within the voter base of Erdogan\u2019s ruling AK Party, the only solution currently envisaged by the Turkish president and his allies is repatriation. For this, rapid and stable development of infrastructure and the housing stock in Syria is considered essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Three
Donald Trump looks on as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on May 14, 2025. The confab also had Turkish fingerprints all over it. Bandar Aljaloud\/Saudi Royal Palace via AP<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Prospects for small-to-middle powers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s strategic opportunity in Syria is not without clear risks, however. The incursions by the Israeli military illustrates the challenge Turkey faces in advancing its own interests in Syria. It is notable that Trump\u2019s announcement on sanctions was seemingly made without the knowledge<\/a> \u2013 and against the wishes<\/a> \u2013 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Turkey is looking to finesse a growing role in the region into strengthening its position over the long-running dispute in Cyprus. The island, which lies a couple of hundred miles off Syria\u2019s coast, is divided into two regions, with Greek Cypriots in the south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north \u2013 with only Turkey recognizing<\/a> the self-declared state in the north. Turkey is trying to regulate maritime jurisdiction in the eastern Mediterranean through an agreement with Syria<\/a>, but the plan is stalled since the European Union supports Greece\u2019s position in Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Turkish moves in Syria are nonetheless being broadly felt elsewhere. Arab nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar support<\/a> the post-Assad arrangement in Syria and see their own interests being served alongside Turkey\u2019s, although the rivalry<\/a> of the Sunni world is at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lifting of sanctions by the U.S. will have long-term political impacts beyond short-term economic impacts. Syria has little direct trade<\/a> with the U.S., only exporting its agricultural products and antiques. But the appearance of political legitimacy and recognition is a diplomatic win for Turkey<\/a>, as well as for Syria. The political opening brings with it the promise of future investment<\/a> in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s dealing with Syria showcases how small-to-middle powers can chart the waters of statecraft in their own way. The days of international affairs being dominated by superpowers appear to be over \u2013 as many have long predicted<\/a>. And in Syria, Turkey is providing a blueprint for how small-to-middle powers can work that to their advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hyeran Jo<\/a>, Associate Professor of Political Science, Texas A&M University<\/a><\/em> and Ece G\u00f6ztepe \u00c7elebi<\/a>, Professor for Turkish and Comparative Constitutional Law, Bilkent University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hyeran Jo, Texas A&M University and Ece G\u00f6ztepe \u00c7elebi, Bilkent University President Donald Trump announced while in Saudi Arabia on May 14, 2025, that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria. The turnaround was a huge victory for the government of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa as he attempts to consolidate power nearly six months […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":39515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,115,277,46,295,25,47,296,4,2450],"tags":[16425,2159,479,3666,1064,885,891,886,860,1553,1852,234,2415,371,2161],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39514"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39514"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39517,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39514\/revisions\/39517"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}