Syria: Erdogan will have to negotiate an end to the crisis with Putin

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is looking for support from his Western allies, but it is again and always with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that he will have to negotiate a way out of the crisis. Adem ALTAN / AFP

Text by: Anne Andlauer

Since the attack attributed to the Syrian regime which killed at least 33 of its soldiers in Idleb on Thursday, Turkey has multiplied diplomatic initiatives. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is looking for support from his Western allies, but it is still and always with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, sponsor of the Damascus regime, that he will have to negotiate a way out of the crisis. The two men are scheduled to meet next week.

Publicity

Read more

From our correspondent in Istanbul,

Since the Idleb attack, the Turkish authorities have only designated one culprit and only hit one target: the forces of Bashar al-Assad's regime. However, on social networks and in the opposition press, military experts and former diplomats advance another version of the facts: it was the Russian aviation which would have caused the death of about thirty Turkish soldiers, and Ankara would keep silent to spare Moscow.

One thing is certain, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan underestimated the support that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was ready to provide to the Damascus regime, and his reluctance to seek de-escalation in Idleb. But it was with him that he had his first telephone interview after the attack. The two men agreed to meet soon. The Kremlin, which was reluctant a few days ago to organize such a meeting, invoking the busy agenda of Vladimir Putin, is now advancing the date of March 5 or 6.

→ Read also: Syria: after Ankara's response, the escalation of tensions worries

The question of the Turkish military presence in Syria will certainly be asked. The stake goes far beyond Idleb: Turkey knows that an unconditional withdrawal of its troops in this province could ultimately precipitate a withdrawal from the other territories of northern Syria under its control since 2016. D ' where his refusal to yield to pressure and attack, when more than 50 Turkish soldiers have lost their lives in Idleb since February 3.

Everyone knows how far not to go ...

Didier Billion, Deputy Director of IRIS

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

subscribe

Download the app

google-play-badge_FR

  • Syria
  • Russia
  • Turkey
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Vladimir Poutine

On the same subject

Turkey threatens Europe with a flow of migrants, Athens strengthens its border

Syria: after Ankara's response, escalating tensions worry

Moscow and Ankara still fail to reach agreement on Syria