The second session of the panel, dubbed "Türkiye's Stabilising Power in Syria's Security," was organised by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications in Ankara with the title "Türkiye's Security Policies and Fight against Terrorism."
Altınbaş University Rector and Member of Presidency's Security and Foreign Policy Council Prof. Çağrı Erhan, Member of the National Intelligence Academy and Presidency's Security and Foreign Policies Council Prof. Nurşin Ateşoğlu Güney, Director of the European Union Research and Application Center (ATAUM) and Member of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Ankara University Prof. Çınar Özen, Editor-in-Chief of Insight Türkiye Magazine and Member of the Faculty of Political Sciences at Social Sciences University of Ankara Prof. Muhittin Ataman, Faculty Member of Naval Warfare Institute in National Defense University Dr. Abdullah Erboğa attended the session moderated by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM) Levant Studies Coordinator Dr. Oytun Orhan.
During the panel, Prof. Erhan stated that Syria is a critical component of Türkiye's Middle East policies and added, "Syria is not merely Syria for Türkiye."
Erhan emphasised that the significance of Syria for Türkiye was evident in the events that transpired after 2012. He also emphasised that Türkiye was impacted by the conflict in terms of its security, economy, and sociology.
Erhan stated that Türkiye's policy at that time was not solely Syria-orientated and that four primary issues were at the forefront when it came to "security" in Syria.
Erhan noted that Türkiye shares the longest border with Syria and that these borders must be safeguarded, citing "border security" as one of the aforementioned primary issues.
Erhan said that the "humanitarian security" dimension is the second primary issue, adding, "Millions of Syrians have been internally displaced, with a larger number of them seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. For more than a decade, Türkiye has been showing hospitality to Syrians."
Erhan underscored that the "reconstruction process" in Syria is an additional component that is of paramount importance from a security standpoint. He also warned that any misstep could result in significant complications.
Finally, Prof. Çağrı Erhan emphasised that the “fight against terrorism” is one of the most pressing issues in Syria for Türkiye and explained that the affiliations of terrorist organisations exist in Syria under various names.
Türkiye's regional clout
According to Prof. Nurşin Ateşoğlu Güney, Türkiye has exercised a fine strategy, with great patience, in terms of its Syrian policy.
Güney asserted that Türkiye has stepped up in the region as the influence of Iran and Russia in Syria has diminished, adding that the threat of the PKK/YPG, the terrorist organization that continues its occupation east of the Euphrates River in Syria, and how to resolve the US military presence in Syria are important issues for Türkiye.
Prof . Güney noted that at a time of global fractions and altering regional geopolitics, Türkiye is committed to keeping contact with the countries in the region and that small-scale communication mechanisms enable speedier decisions and actions.
"Türkiye's efforts in the region have been tremendously successful"
ATAUM Director Özen, stated that while the changes in Syria are favourable for Türkiye, he cautioned, "But it is still early to express optimism. Because it is located in a region where stakes are high and the calculations of major states are slightly disrupted, we are entering a period in which they will most likely try to transform what is currently a bright landscape into a negative one by implementing other plans."
Noting that "the bigger, more challenging, and risky part of the job" has just begun, Özen said, "But I believe it is necessary to look at the bigger picture. When we look at the big picture, we must naturally focus on the strategies of the US and its allies. Because, after all, the US seeks to shape this region."
Özen reminded the potential of Israel being at the centre of the process of reshaping the region and configuring it with a new geopolitical design, adding, "After years, Israel is now able to use direct force everywhere in the Middle East with utmost recklessness." It extended as far as Lebanon. Had the Syrian revolution failed, Israel most likely would have advanced significantly in Lebanon."
Describing Türkiye's actions in the region as highly successful and beneficial for Türkiye, Özen said, "This is possibly the most significant geopolitical step for Türkiye in many years, but Türkiye will now face Israel in regional geopolitics, particularly over Syria. It is inevitable."
Türkiye's security policies and counter-terrorism measures
Head of the Department of International Relations at Social Sciences University of Ankara . Prof. Muhittin Ataman remarked that Türkiye has lately undergone a "paradigm shift" in its counter-terrorism strategy, emphasising that Türkiye has taken significant steps in the fight against terrorism on a national, global, and regional scale.
Noting that Türkiye has transformed into a state that carries the fight against terrorism across borders and conducts it effectively, Ataman said, "If Türkiye wants to achieve absolute superiority in the fight against terrorism on a regional scale, it must increase the state capacities of both Iraq and Syria."
National Defense University Faculty Member Dr. Abdullah Erboğa stated that Türkiye's primary objective is to ensure stability in the Middle East and emphasised that the presence of the terrorist organisation PKK in Syria is the primary concern in terms of Türkiye's security policies.
Erboğa underscored that the stability of Türkiye and Syria will become entirely interdependent, as he stated, "An instability in Syria inevitably affects Türkiye And Syria cannot remain unaffected by the instability in Türkiye."
