Russia and Turkey are playing theater to fight one another in Syria
For a long time, sparks have shifted between Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan over the ongoing conflict in Syria. They blame each other for the escalation of tensions in Idlib.
“Damascus and Moscow have delivered deadly strikes not on terrorists, but on peaceful Syrians. Turkish soldiers were killed,” Erdogan erupted a few days ago.
“Neither ours nor the Syrian military are killing civilians. The attacks on Turkish forces have been carried out by terrorists who have become increasingly aggressive towards both the Russian and Syrian military, “replied the voice of Russian President Dmitry Peskov.
BA Comment
According to Fabrice Balanche, lecturer at the University of Leon, the mutual accusations between the leaders of Russia and Turkey are more of a setting, behind which the two countries are trying to pursue their interests on Syria and the ongoing conflict there.
“I do not see insurmountable contradictions between Russia and Turkey in Syria. Moscow and Ankara have a very good understanding of Idlib and Northern Syria. Each time the Syrian army returns some of Idlib, Turkey occupies Kurdish territory. Therefore, I do not expect a rupture between Russia and Turkey because of several Turkish soldiers killed, “the expert said.