The Turkish strategy towards Syria after 2016

Abstract

Turkey's geopolitical location is a double-edged sword, it is located at a crossroads linking east with west, as well as its closeness to the energy sources in the Middle East, this puts it in a central location of power. On the other hand, it is also located near hot spots of conflict on the international stage which has made it faces security challenges escalation. Therefore, the Turkish national security is directly affected by the conditions of its geographical neighboring countries, such as: its gaining or losing a power, or its being invaded, or losing its central authority. So Turkey pays a lot of attention to protect its national security which is sometimes required to use its military forces outside its boundaries in order to protect its national interests. Turkey is trying to overcome the issue of insecurity in its geographical neighborhood, which was come from the events that happened in Syria and Iraq in 2014, represented by “ISIS” control over a number of Syrian and Iraqi cities, through Turkey determination for geopolitical situation, its allies and potential enemies. It plans for a road map with its geographical neighborhood currently which represents a threat to Turkish national security, therefore, Turkey takes a position based on realism, effectiveness, military deterrence, and follows a plan that prevents any challenge will face it, and handles arising problems over its boundaries insecurity. So the attempt to realize its position from these developments, Turkey has made its decision to use military forces towards the situation in Syria as a necessary and insistent mechanism to protect its national security and achieving its foreign policy objectives under a turbulent regional conditions. Turkish military intervention in Syria is manifested through these following military operations: (Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, Peace Spring, Spring Shield). This subject study approach depends on the realist theory in international relations, as Turkish policy in the past few years has shifted from soft power and diplomacy to the use of hard power policy. the realist school generally stresses on a perpetual tendency to conflict between states, and believes that power policy, capacity building, and alliances will increase state power, positions, goals achievements, security guarantees and national interests, because chaos makes countries worry about the balance of power, while the structure of the international and regional system enforces countries to pay careful attention to this balance. So, this study shows the changes which has prompted Turkey to adopt a realistic approach and its intervention in Syria.