Turkey, which maintains close ties with Russia, publicly supports the three countries’ actions against Syria.

　　CCTV News:On the Syrian issue, Turkey has always cooperated closely with Russia and Iran. However, just after the United States, Britain and France launched military strikes against targets in Syria, Turkey issued a statement saying that it publicly supported the three countries’ actions against Syria. Turkey, together with Russia and Iran, participated in solving the Syrian issue, and at the same time publicly supported the military attack on Syria by the United States, Britain and France. What is Turkey’s position?

　　Shortly after the United States, Britain and France jointly attacked Syria, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing its support for the military action of the United States, Britain and France, saying that the action was an appropriate response to the suspected chemical attack in Duma. However, on the 4th of this month, Turkey, together with Russia and Iran, held a tripartite summit in Ankara, Turkey, to discuss the Syrian process.

　　To Turkish political analysts, this seemingly inconsistent statement actually reflects Turkey’s search for a balance of interests between Russia and the United States.

　　On the Syrian issue, although Turkey participated in the settlement together with Russia and Iran, there are obvious differences between Turkey and Russia and Iran on the Syrian Kurdish issue and its support for the Bashar regime. On the other hand, in the relationship with the United States, Turkey and the United States also hold different positions on combating Kurdish armed forces.

　　However, as a member of NATO, Turkey will not completely give up its cooperation with the United States on the issue of combating Kurdish armed forces, which it is most concerned about.

　　Hassan Kony, a professor of international relations at Istanbul University of Culture, said that it must be realized that the Kurdish issue is the really important issue for Turkey. On the other hand, the United States opposes Bashar’s continued power, so Turkey and the United States also share some common interests.

　　However, experts also pointed out that although maintaining a balance between the United States and Russia is more in line with Turkey’s political interests at present, the geopolitical situation has become very complicated with the intervention of multinational forces in Syria. In this context, Turkey will also face greater political risks.

　　Hassan Kony, a professor of international relations at Istanbul University of Culture, said that it is a very unstable situation and an uncertain balance. One wrong step will lead to big trouble, so this is not a real balance.