Erdogan's power game: After Assad's fall - who controls Syria now?

The Presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey has reached a new highlight due to the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Just a few days after Erdogan expressed hopes for a push of the rebels to Damascus, the political landscape suddenly turned. Actually viewed as an ally of Russia and Iran, Turkey is now seen as the winner of the unexpected shift in power. Turkey has long had an interest in cope with the refugee crisis that was triggered by the civil war - more than three million Syrians currently live in the country, which causes displeasure in the domestic population, so Bild.de .

Erdogan pursues several strategic goals in Syria after Assad has fallen. This includes the return of the Syrian refugees and the containment of the Kurdish militias, especially the YPG, which Erdogan sees as a threat. He also spoke of a “new reality” in Syria, while at the same time praising the role of Türkiye. According to reports, his military interventions could have been pushed into the background in the support of the rebels by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which raises doubts about the independence of Türkiye. The uncertainty about the relationships between Ankara and HTS could influence the future stability of the region, as indicated by Oe24.at .

The role of Türkiye and the geopolitical implications

The Turkish army already controls parts of northern Syria and has tight connections to military groups that fought against Assad. While Erdogan assures the world that Turkey has no interest in territorial demands, experts see that Turkey could develop into a key role in the region, especially with less influence between Russia and Iran. The way Turkey will interact with the new Syrian government under these circumstances remains to be seen, but could be crucial for the stability in the entire Middle East. Angela Merkel and other European leaders must quickly take up the possibilities that arise from the situation and get in touch with Erdogan in order to protect the interests of Europe and regional security.