Will Gulf countries support the Syria-Turkey reconciliation? - analysis
Qatar, like Turkey, has backed the Syrian rebels and would not want to be seen to be selling them out. But it is also close to Iran as well as a strategic US partner.
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Gulf countries are positioning themselves to push for Syria’s return to the region through new engagement, interactions and integration, all through diplomatic outreach. This process, which began primarily with the UAE’s push for high-level meetings with Damascus and symbolic visits by officials, has led to more discussion in Gulf media about what might come next. The narrative is clear: Syria’s reconciliation time has come.
One report from UAE-based Al-Ain media on Monday spelled out some of the “hopes” for a meeting between Syrian regime leader President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is not clear that the meeting will take place, but there is talk of a meeting in Russia in early April composed of various officials.
The goal: To normalize ties with the Syrian regime and normalize the meetings. At every juncture, the normalization only grows, now as part of a preset process, as opposed to individual meetings.
more............ https://www.jpost.com/international/article-735727
Qatar, like Turkey, has backed the Syrian rebels and would not want to be seen to be selling them out. But it is also close to Iran as well as a strategic US partner.
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Gulf countries are positioning themselves to push for Syria’s return to the region through new engagement, interactions and integration, all through diplomatic outreach. This process, which began primarily with the UAE’s push for high-level meetings with Damascus and symbolic visits by officials, has led to more discussion in Gulf media about what might come next. The narrative is clear: Syria’s reconciliation time has come.
One report from UAE-based Al-Ain media on Monday spelled out some of the “hopes” for a meeting between Syrian regime leader President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is not clear that the meeting will take place, but there is talk of a meeting in Russia in early April composed of various officials.
The goal: To normalize ties with the Syrian regime and normalize the meetings. At every juncture, the normalization only grows, now as part of a preset process, as opposed to individual meetings.
more............ https://www.jpost.com/international/article-735727