Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees an opportunity to expand his power in the wake of Syria’s regime collapse. The situation has left Kurdish forces weakened and isolated, making it easier for Turkey to assert its influence. This is a change from previous years when Erdogan focused on containing the Syrian Kurdish minority.
Erdogan had repeatedly asked former US President Donald Trump to withdraw American troops from northern Syria and hand over security responsibilities to Turkey. Now, with Syria’s regime in shambles, Erdogan may try to make similar demands to the incoming US president.
The collapse of Syria’s regime also means that other rebel groups may be re-evaluating their priorities. One faction, HTS, was crucial in taking Damascus without the help of other rebels. The future of these groups is now uncertain as they navigate this new landscape.
Source: https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/12/11/as-syrias-regime-collapses-erdogan-eyes-victory-over-the-kurds