Business Insider: "Turkey is out of the game after Russian intervention in Syrian conflict"

The British think tank Chatham House wrote that the Russian military intervention in the Syrian conflict makes it a key regional player. Moscow's decision to launch a military operation in Syria fits into the logical framework of the political crisis in the country while maintaining the current regime of Bashar al-Assad. The precondition for the start of the national dialogue is unusual and should be based on maintaining the existing Syrian government structures and institutions without a separation of the powers between Assad and members of the opposition. To date, the current president of Syria is the only guarantor of the state in the fight against ISIS.

Russian support is crucial in solving the problems of the Middle East. Firstly, for the intensification of the dialogue between the West and Moscow, and, respectively, between the West and the Middle East countries, and in this case Russia is a mediator with quite a strong position. On the other hand, support for the Syrian President means the conservation of the country as a state even in the face of a serious political and military crisis. Thirdly, the creation of a coalition in the fight against the threat of ISIS is a real chance to rebuff international terrorism and prevent it from spreading beyond the region.

Despite the criticism of the Western powers, we cannot ignore the fact that without Russian interference it would hardly be possible to resolve the Syrian issue without destroying the country and its statehood per se. All attempts by the US-led coalition to resist ISIS during the last year have not shown any visible progress, and this is another indication that the application of the West rarely coincides with its actions, while Russia has always adhered to its promises. The situation in the Middle East as a whole reflects a global trend, and today the only state that can balance the difficult relationship in the world is Russia, which due to its strategic and political planning has become a key regional and global player.

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The British analytical publication Business Insider wrote about the situation in which Turkey seems to have found itself after the Russian intervention in the Syrian conflict. The Turkish leadership, which has long been hatching plans to change the government of Bashar Assad, in this regard providing significant support for the Syrian rebels in the north of the country, has been out of the game with the upcoming of Russia to the region. Now the question is whether the Republic of Turkey dares to speak out against Moscow.

The country's leadership has expressed ‘grave concern’ about the fact that Russia has begun to put air strikes on Syrian territory, but Ankara is unlikely to dare to condemn the Kremlin openly, given the extensive economic relations between Turkey and Russia. Most likely, the Turkish government will choose the option involving strengthening of support for the Syrian rebels, in turn, this could play into the hands of the Kurdish rebels, defending their state in the north of the Republic.

The internal political crisis in Turkey does not allow the leadership of the state to make rash moves against Russia. However, Ankara has the opportunity to deepen the partnership with Russia, as a rapprochement with Europe and the United States is unlikely to be possible in the near future. At the same time, Turkey should maintain its position in the Middle East, and the most viable option for the Republic is to strengthen relations with Russia, not confronting its economic partner, even if there are different policy approaches to the solution of the Syrian problem.