№128: Not Really a Coalition: The U.S.–Turkey Deal on the Fight against the Islamic State
№128: Not Really a Coalition: The U.S.–Turkey Deal on the Fight against the Islamic State

Author(s): Pinar Elman
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Security and defense, Military policy
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: USA; Syria;Kurdish; ISIS;
Summary/Abstract: Turkey’s decision to open Incirlik airbase to the anti-IS coalition could offer a significant advantage inthe fight against the Islamic State, including cutting it off from outside supplies, and changing theregional parameters. However, statements from the U.S. and Turkey still contradict each other, andtheir divergent priorities could hamper their operational capacity. Turkey’s contribution to the coalitionmay potentially reduce cooperation between the U.S. and the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) inthe anti-IS zone. In addition, the absence of a ceasefire between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’Party (PKK) and the domestic polarisation provide a permissible environment for potential provocationsthat may escalate the violence in Turkey, potentially diminishing its contribution. The U.S. and Turkeystill have to overcome their differences in order to become effective coalition partners.

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