'Small world war' developing in Syria?
- By He Wenping
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E-mail CNTV, February 18, 2016
When the Syrian government army made progress in northern Syria with the support of Russia, Turkey, who took Kurdish arms as the largest threat and attempted to establish a "safety zone" in northern Syria, could not sit idle.
Ankara had worked with Riyadh, in efforts to overthrow Syria's Bashar Assad regime and to contain Iran by supporting Syria's opposition factions. Washington, who backed up Kurdish arms, turned a blind eye to Turkey's actions, and expected to see its strikes on Syria's governmental army and Russia.
Damascus and Moscow will never hand over their political power and interests for which they have fought for the past five years. Moreover, Moscow still holds a grudge after Ankara shooting-down Russian warplanes last year. It is most likely that Syria would be the best chance and best theatre for Russia to take its revenge on Turkey.
By taking the advantage of the Syrian war, all sides would attempt to seek stronger speaking rights at the negotiation table. The small "world war" in Syria may continue on, since peace talks were suspended.
However when the two sides beat battle drums, the international society favors restarting negotiations. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said the suspension of peace talks doesn't mean a "failure;" both sides hope to resolve differences.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and leaders of European Union called on Moscow to solve the Syrian crisis politically. Perhaps, the fighting sides of the Syrian war can cherish peace in order to end the small "world war."
He Wenping is a researcher and director of African Research at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
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