No Change Expected in Türkiye’s Approach to Syria as New Govt Takes Office

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his new government pose for a photo in front of the Ataturk Monument in Ankara on Tuesday. (Turkish Presidency - Reuters)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his new government pose for a photo in front of the Ataturk Monument in Ankara on Tuesday. (Turkish Presidency - Reuters)
TT

No Change Expected in Türkiye’s Approach to Syria as New Govt Takes Office

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his new government pose for a photo in front of the Ataturk Monument in Ankara on Tuesday. (Turkish Presidency - Reuters)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his new government pose for a photo in front of the Ataturk Monument in Ankara on Tuesday. (Turkish Presidency - Reuters)

As soon as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the formation of his new government, which held its first meeting on Tuesday, questions were raised over Türkiye’s approach to the Syria.  

In fact, the new government lineup includes three ministers who have extensive experience in handling the Syrian file, and knowledge of the minutes and details of the Russian-sponsored talks aimed at normalizing relations between Ankara and Damascus.  

The new foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, is the former intelligence chief, who initiated the first contacts with Syria and laid the basis for launching the talks through his meetings with head of the Syrian National Security Bureau Ali Mamlouk.  

Moreover, Turkish intelligence, under the leadership of Fidan, carried out sophisticated operations targeting leaders of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the largest component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and the killing of the supposed leader of ISIS, Abu al-Hussein al-Qurashi in Jandris, northern Syria.  

Turkish intelligence has established an effective presence in northern Syria under his leadership. 

Ibrahim Kalin, former official spokesman for the presidency, was named as Fidan’s replacement as head of intelligence. 

Kalin is also strongly involved in the Syrian file, as he was a security advisor to Erdogan, and used to handle contacts with Russian and American representatives, as well as European officials and various circles engaged in Syria.  

New minister of Defense Yasar Guler is a former army chief of staff. He participated and supervised the four Turkish military operations in northern Syria from 2016 to 2020. He was commander of the ground forces during the Euphrates Shield in 2016 and the Olive Branch in 2018, then chief of staff as of 2018. He also supervised the Peace Spring operation in northeastern Syria, and the Spring Shield in Idlib in 2020.  

In a statement after being appointed to his new post, Fidan stressed that he will continue to maintain an independent national vision for Türkiye. The new defense minister also confirmed that Turkish forces will maintain their tasks in preserving the country’s security and combating terrorism.  

Both statements point that there would be no change in Türkiye’s current policy towards Syria, politically or on the ground. The normalization talks will continue, while a military withdrawal from northern Syria will not be imminent.  

A meeting of the Quartet Mechanism to develop a roadmap for normalization between Türkiye and Syria is scheduled to be held later this month. It will include the deputy foreign and defense ministers, and officials from the intelligence services of the two countries, along with Russia and Iran, within the framework of the Astana track. 



World Bank Looking to Free up Emergency Funds for Lebanon, Managing Director Says

 A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
TT

World Bank Looking to Free up Emergency Funds for Lebanon, Managing Director Says

 A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)

The World Bank is looking to free up emergency funds for Lebanon, potentially including up to $100 million through the use of special clauses in existing loan deals, its managing director of operations told Reuters.

The Washington-based development lender currently has $1.65 billion in loans to the country including a $250 million loan approved this week to help connect dispersed renewable energy projects in the country.

Amid fighting across southern Lebanon, the bank was currently discussing ways in which it could help support the economy, including through the use of so-called Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERCs) clauses.

"We can use our existing portfolio and free up some money for really critical, short-term liquidity needs," Anna Bjerde said.

CERCs are present in around 600 of the bank's existing projects, globally, and allow it to redirect funds that have yet to be disbursed, if requested to by a government, for example after a health or natural disaster, or during conflict.

Lebanon has yet to make such a request, Bjerde said.

After a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel mostly limited to the frontier region, the conflict has significantly escalated in Lebanon.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel's third largest city Haifa on Monday, while Israeli forces looked poised to expand ground raids into south Lebanon on the first anniversary of the Gaza war, which has spread conflict across the Middle East.

Lebanon's government could choose to use an existing social protection program that was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that allows for financial support to be sent to individuals, Bjerde said.

"It has the benefit of being totally digital so you can reach people, plus it can be verified a bit... so we will also probably use that to top up the social safety net for those that are particularly affected."

Up to 1 million people have been internally displaced in the country, she added: "So it's important we focus on that".

Lebanon's finance ministry and economy ministry did not immediately respond when asked for comment.