SINCE the demise of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in mid-December 2024, the neighbouring nations and Western powers have been striving to maximize their influence in Syria. The external actor’s interference would have constructive and negative consequences. If these actors focus on humanitarian assistance and infrastructure development of the civil war-torn country, the Syrians will have relief from political instability and prospects for economic prosperity. However, the external actors have a political agenda—to govern Syria through their proxies to cater to their Middle Eastern schema. Hence, the external powerbrokers in Damascus will further deteriorate the situation.

Turkiye seems advantageous in Syria due to its proximity and patrons, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Syrian National Army militias. Both were responsible for the end of the Assad regime. Indeed, political stability in the country and Turkiye-Syria normalization facilitate over three million Syrian refugees residing in Turkiye to return to their homeland. Besides, Ankara might manage to rid itself of a security threat emanating from the south due to Kurdish nationalism. Ankara would destroy the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which is part of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—a designated terrorist group, with the assistance of HTS and........

© Pakistan Observer