Antony Blinken's visit to Turkey highlights the increasing complexity of the Syrian crisis. It is anticipated that the discussions may centre on protecting the Kurdish-led SDF, managing Turkey’s support for Sunni Islamist groups like HTS, and preventing a broader confrontation involving Turkey, Israel, and other factions.
Turkey remains firm in its opposition to the SDF, which it views as a Syrian offshoot of the PKK, a designated terrorist organisation. This stance pits Turkey against its NATO allies, particularly the U.S. and Europe, who continue to support the SDF as a key force against ISIS. At the same time, Ankara is attempting to rebrand HTS as a moderate Islamist group, though this narrative raises concerns in the West about long-term instability.
The formation of an interim government in Syria, following Bashar al-Assad’s hiding in Russia, adds further uncertainty. Fears of a confrontation between Turkish-backed forces, the SDF, Shiite militias, other minorities and Israel are growing. Upon Blinken's request, Turkey may seek to restrain Sunni fighters from engaging in the Golan Heights to avoid actions that threaten Israeli interests, but such restraint is not guaranteed amid the region’s volatility.
For Blinken, negotiating these state of Syrian crises is challenging, particularly as he faces domestic criticism over American handling of Afghanistan and the Gaza crises. Besides, he will be replaced after 40 days when Trump assumes office.
Protecting Israel remains a core objective for Washington, but balancing this with stabilising Syria and addressing Turkey’s concerns adds to the complexity. The situation underscores the fragile regional order and the difficulty of reconciling competing priorities.
The writer is editor of Geopolits.com and the Author of the book titled Bengal Nexus
