BORA BAYRAKTAR

Next war in the Middle East BORA BAYRAKTAR

Next war in the Middle East

Experts in the U.S. and some members of the American administration have recently been talking about “protecting Kurds from Turkey.”

January 17 2019
Back to square one in Syria BORA BAYRAKTAR

Back to square one in Syria

U.S. President Donald Trump had declared his decision to withdraw troops from Syria following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement on Dec. 12, 2018 that within a few days Turkey would militarily intervene in the east of Euphrates River in Syria. The words of withdrawal from Trump surprised everyone including members of his own administration.

January 10 2019
Managing uncertainty in Syria BORA BAYRAKTAR

Managing uncertainty in Syria

After U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw forces, a new uncertainty developed in Syria. However, compared with the eight years of chaos in the country, this latest uncertainty seems more manageable.

January 03 2019
What is Turkey’s plan in Syria BORA BAYRAKTAR

What is Turkey’s plan in Syria?

As we approach the eighth year of the Syrian civil war, we are witnessing very fast and dramatic developments on the field. The U.S. decision to withdraw from Syria will change the current balance of power radically. Now, the Turkish decision to launch an operation to the east of River Euphrates, which triggered the U.S. to decide to withdraw, is on hold. No doubt, Turkey is preparing for a much more extensive operation.

December 27 2018
Signs of normalization between Turkey and the US BORA BAYRAKTAR

Signs of normalization between Turkey and the US

In one of my previous columns I described the relationship between Turkey and the U.S. as a “pathological partnership.” I was referring to the hostile attitude against Turkey and criticizing American policy of arming and supporting groups affiliated to the terrorist PKK, like the YPG in Syria.

December 20 2018
East of Euphrates BORA BAYRAKTAR

East of Euphrates

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signaled a new operation against the PKK in Syria at the Turkish Defense Industry Summit in Ankara on Dec. 12. “We stated that we will start our new military operation against the separatist terrorist organization to liberate the east of Euphrates within a few days. Our target is not American soldiers, it is the terrorists who are active in the region,” he said.

December 14 2018
Pathological partnership of Turkey and the US BORA BAYRAKTAR

Pathological partnership of Turkey and the US

Not very long ago, in 2009, terms like “strategic partnership” or “model partnership” were used to describe Turkish-American relations.

December 07 2018