Russian airstrikes on NATO ally Turkey show danger of staying in Syria

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 27, 2020
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Reuters reported that at least 34 Turkish soldiers were killed by Russian airstrikes in Idlib province. Defense Priorities Policy Director Benjamin H. Friedman issued the following statement in response:

“Syria now offers the United States little besides opportunities to get into pointless wars with other powers. Perhaps the most pressing danger is the enormously consequential one of getting dragged into a fight with Russia and the Syrian government it backs on behalf of Turkey, a NATO ally in fact if not in spirit.

“Neither the United States nor Turkey should still be occupying Syria. Turkey’s efforts to prop up rebels trying to overthrow Assad are doomed to fail—a way to prolong the war in Syria at great cost to Syrians and a highway to conflict with Russia or Iran. The Assad government is going to retake Idlib. The key question now is to what degree that process will escalate into a broader war and how bloody it will be. The United States should use its limited leverage to press Turkey to pull its troops and compel rebels it controls to negotiate a ceasefire or surrender with the Syrian government. That is the best we can do today for Syrians, the most humanitarian outcome that is realistic.”

Author

Benjamin
Friedman

Policy Director

Defense Priorities