Photo: TASS / Maksim Grigoryev
On April 23, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that the Turkish airspace will be closed to military and civilian planes carrying troops from Russia to Syria.
Speaking to reporter on a plane en route to Uruguay, Cavusoglu said that Ankara took the decision after consultation with Moscow.
“We closed airspace to Russia’s military planes and even to civilian planes going to Syria and carrying soldiers,” the minister said.
Cavusoglu noted that permission was given for three month periods until April, and then the flights stopped. The minister didn’t elaborate.
Turkey has good relations with both Russia and Ukraine and has sought to mediate to end the war between them. Cavusoglu said talks between Russia and Ukraine are ongoing and the two countries are still working to draft joint declaration.
The war in Ukraine was not likely the only reason behind Turkey’s decision to close its airspace for Russian military plane traveling to Syria.
Turkey may be trying to pressure Russia over several issues related to Syria. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Turkey’s main foe in Syria, is de-facto protected by Russian forces. Ankara may be seeking Russia’s support for a new operation against the group.
Ankara may be also looking for a Russian role in reestablishing relations with Damascus. Recently, several Turkish sources reported security talks with Damascus, while officials, including Cavusoglu, hinted that Anakra is ready for a limited rapprochement. However, Damascus rejected all of these claims and statements, calling on Turkey to withdraw its forces before any real talks.
Turkey’s interest in a rapprochement with Damascus is not an honest one. The ruling Justice and Development Party may be just trying to score a political achievement before the 2023 elections. The Syrian war and the refugee crisis are key issues for voters in Turkey.
Another issue Turkey may be trying to pressure Russia over is the situation in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, which is jointly ruled by the Turkish military and al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Russia resumed its airstrikes on the region recently. Ankara may have been triggered by that.
Regardless of Turkey’s real motives, the ban will not likely effect Russian military operations in Syria. Russia can still supply its forces via sea as well as through an aerial corridor that passes over Iran and Iraq.
