An immediate solution plan between Ankara and Damascus is needed for the refugee issue!

Stating that the meeting between the leaders of Türkiye and Syria is an important step for the normalization of relations between the two countries, Dr. Güler Kalay evaluated the actions taken in both countries.

Noting that the planning of the Erdoğan-Putin meeting and the fact that the two leaders are taking steps together on the Syrian issue is not a desirable situation for the Western alliance and Israel, Dr. Güler Kalay stated that "In this case, it is not surprising that Ankara will take provocative initiatives that will require it to focus on its own internal issues."

Dr. Güler Kalay stated that "The goal is to prevent the improvement of relations between Ankara and Damascus. An immediate solution plan should be developed between Ankara and Damascus for the refugee problem."

Üsküdar University Strategic Studies Center Deputy Director Dr. Güler Kalay evaluated the relations between Türkiye and Syria and the actions taking place in both countries.

The meeting of the leaders was an important step for the normalization of relations between the two countries

Noting that the meeting between the leaders of Türkiye and Syria on June 28, 2024, was an important step for the normalization of relations between the two countries, Dr. Güler Kalay stated that "Both leaders made positive statements regarding the re-establishment of mutual diplomatic relations. In the face of the increase in current tensions in international relations, the rhetoric of a new world war, becoming clearer of alliances, and the hardening of competition in the international economy, the normalization of Türkiye and Syria relations is undoubtedly an important move on the chessboard."

In recent years, Türkiye has been pursuing an active foreign policy to transform the hot conflicts around it

Emphasizing that Türkiye has been pursuing an active foreign policy in recent years to transform the hot conflicts around it, Dr. Güler Kalay stated that "Israeli and Turkish relations are going through a tense process as Ankara has revealed its clear stance against Israel in the face of the increasing regional expansion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On the other hand, the sharp competition in international trade routes and alternative projects on new trade corridors have been added to the Development Corridor project discussed between Türkiye and Iraq. In the context of the impact of political economy in international relations, Türkiye draws attention as an active player. As it is known, there is a remarkable softening in Armenian-Turkish relations, and the Zangezur Corridor (Syunik Region), which is a very important project for the South Caucasus, is a project that will increase Türkiye's political and economic-commercial power, and it is a project that is expected to make significant contributions to the economic development of the region."

It is not surprising that provocative initiatives will require Ankara to focus on its own internal issues

Dr. Güler Kalay continued her remarks as follows: "Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's statements after his visit to Moscow to focus on the seriousness of the possibility of World War III, Ankara's re-expression of its desire to take part in BRICS, the planning of the Erdoğan-Putin meeting, and most importantly, the fact that the two leaders are taking steps together on the Syrian issue are undoubtedly not a desirable situation for the Western alliance and, of course, for Israel. Ankara's increasing dynamism and influence in foreign policy, which has attracted attention, are sometimes described as undesirable steps for playmakers. In this case, it is not surprising that provocative initiatives will require Ankara to focus on its own internal issues. It is not a new game to reveal the weakest aspects of states in such sensitive times in human political history and to turn inward and break their dynamism in foreign policy."

Although Türkiye is a member of NATO, it conducts its foreign policy by considering its own national interests

Emphasizing that the strengthening of the Russia-China-Iran alliance, Türkiye's foreign policy by considering its own national interests despite being a NATO member, and its close communication with Russia on the Syrian issue are difficult to accept for the Anglo-Saxon and America's alliance in the Middle East, Israel, Dr. Güler Kalay stated that "The normalization of Ankara-Damascus relations is a development against the PKK/PYD. The PKK/PYD are organizations that the United States supports to shape its policy in the region, and it is very unlikely that a puppet state plan to be established here will be realized without these organizations. The normalization of Syrian-Turkish relations will create an existential threat to the PKK/PYD organizations with the re-establishment of diplomatic relations. In this case, a situation will arise that will weaken both Israeli and American hegemony in the region."

The refugee and asylum seeker problem takes the first place in Türkiye's current domestic issues

Stating that the re-escalation of tensions between Ankara and Damascus may completely shelve diplomatic reconciliation initiatives as well as escalate the PKK's actions in Türkiye, Dr. Güler Kalay expressed that "While the refugee and asylum seeker problem takes the first place in Türkiye's current domestic issues, terrorism is another important problem. When these two problems are provoked within the framework of nationalism and ethno-nationalism, it becomes necessary for Ankara to direct a significant part of its power to domestic politics. In such a scenario, when social conflict and ethnic conflict are combined with economic problems, it will be very fast to affect society through nationalist discourses and social media."

How should the simultaneous actions in Kayseri and Syria be read?

Dr. Güler Kalay stated that “I believe that the actions starting first in Kayseri and then in Syria just a few days after the moderate meeting of the leaders of Syria and Türkiye that I think they are independent from each other and draw attention with their similarities and synchronicities, must be read within this framework.” Kalay continued her remarks as follows: “When we look at the starting point of the incident in Kayseri, we can say that the following examples can be the most concreate examples of the accumulated anger seeking for a channel to flow: on the one hand, the irregular arrival of refugees in Turkish society and economic problems and problems of social integration for many years; on the other hand, the decrease in the nominal income of the household day by day. In such an atmosphere, it is not difficulty to provoke the society with anti-Syrian sentiment. The attack on the child in Kayseri is just one of its kind, and it is known that it is not the first. However, the answer to why society is reacting in this way is linked to the international political conjuncture. The attack on the Turkish people in Syria is another move in the same conjuncture.”

An immediate solution plan should be developed between Ankara and Damascus

Dr. Güler Kalay stated that “As a result, the goal is to prevent the improvement of relations between Ankara and Damascus. However, I think there are other conclusions that can be drawn from the situation as well. Turkish society is tired of irregular migration, asylum seekers and refugees. The bottleneck in the economy magnifies this problem. The possibility of the outbreak of social conflicts should not be ignored. An immediate solution plan should be developed between Ankara and Damascus for the refugee problem.”

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)