Türkische Militäroffensiven in Syrien
Turkey‘s Military Offensive in Syria

Service for Peace or Neo-Ottoman Expansionism?

Summary/Abstract: Although the domestic consolidation of power was a major factor for the Turkish Military offensive in North-Syrian Afrin at the beginning of 2018, this invasion is embedded in a wider context. It primarily refers to the ideologically guided neo-Ottoman power politics concerning Syria and the Middle East in contemporary Turkey. The Turkish government’s major objective is to become a hegemonic power in the Middle East. For this purpose Ankara seeks a pan-Islamic/Sunni agenda with the main focus on an anti-Kurd military strategy in order to curtailthe Kurds in general and the PKK and PYD in particular. With a flexible strategy and the tactical alliance with Russia and Iran Ankara managed toenlarge its room for manoeuvre and to conquer Syrian territory. Thus Ankara creates zones of influence, constrains the Kurds and strengthens its position for post-war negotiations in Syria. However, with such manoeuvring Ankara also risks to be constrained by Russia, thus creating polarisation with its Western allies, especially the USA.

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