Turkey Re-Engages Syria, Forgets 13 Years of Meddling
While Al-Monitor focuses on the 'first ambassador' in over a decade, it glosses over the 'decade' part. Turkey didn't just 'withdraw' its ambassador in 2012; it actively backed various Syrian opposition groups, some with rather dubious affiliations. This 'normalization' isn't just diplomacy; it's a strategic pivot from a foreign policy that fueled regional destabilization, culminating in multiple
Turkish military incursions into northern Syria since 2016 (Operation Euphrates Shield, Operation Olive Branch, Operation Peace Spring). One might wonder if they're finally bored of playing both arsonist and firefighter. So, Ankara sends an ambassador. A grand gesture, perhaps? Or simply pragmatism after years of proxy wars and territorial grabs that achieved... well, what exactly? Turkey’s
decade-long adventurism left a trail of destruction, displacement, and geopolitical complexity. Now, after contributing significantly to Syria's fragmentation, they show up with a bouquet and a smile, hoping everyone forgets the shattered vases.