Expert says US considers Turkey the key factor in maintaining stability in Syria

The expert in Arabic studies, Hayk Kocharyan, believes that after Donald Trump’s return to power, the United States is generally seeking to coordinate its actions with Turkey on the Syrian issue, viewing Ankara as the key factor in maintaining regional stability.

In an interview with Armenpress, Kocharyan discussed the situation in Syria and the broader developments surrounding the Arab country, which involve both global powers and influential regional actors.

When asked why the U.S. is partially reducing its military presence in Syria, the expert linked the move to the Kurdish factor.

According to him, the greatest obstacle to the formation of a unified Syria is the Kurdish issue. If the Kurds remain strong and continue to dominate the eastern regions of Syria, it will undermine Damascus’s position at the negotiating table. Therefore, the U.S., which supports the Kurds, is attempting to pressure them to engage in talks with the current Syrian authorities.

“In fact, the U.S., while trying to achieve its goals, is weakening its support for the Kurds in this way,” the expert said.

“Trump generally acts based on financial and economic considerations. He is trying to withdraw American military forces from various regions or at least reduce their numbers. In other words, the United States, as a major global actor, is seeking to pull back and leave problem-solving to regional powers. At the same time, the U.S. is closely monitoring how Iran, Russia, and Turkey will act,” Kocharyan noted.

“It is clear that, given its role in NATO, Turkey has been given a significant place in overall U.S. policy. A personal factor also plays a role here, as Trump has already said that Erdogan is a strong leader and that they understand each other well,” he added.

Commenting on Turkish President Erdogan’s statement that “Ankara will under no circumstances allow the division of Syria,” Kocharyan emphasized that the Turkish leader’s position should be considered in the context outlined above.

“Erdogan clearly sees that another actor interested in the Syrian issue is Israel, which insists that Tel Aviv should also participate in the negotiations. The issue is more likely connected to the Turkey-Israel confrontation in Syrian territory. Erdogan's statement is directed at Israel itself,” he said.

“It is obvious that Israel, using the Kurds as allies, wants to open the so-called ‘David's Corridor’, that is, by relying on Kurdish-populated regions, it aims to connect them and position itself  between Shiite and Sunni territories. This is what Erdogan perceives as a threat, and he insists that Turkey will not allow Syria to be divided,” Kocharyan explained.

It is clear that Iran and Russia are also deeply involved in the events unfolding in Syria. For example, Russia is negotiating to reopen the ‘Russian House’ in Damascus, while Iran has demanded security guarantees from the Syrian authorities as a step toward improving mutual relations.

Speaking about the possibility of Iran and Russia restoring their former influence in Syria, Kocharyan said that this prospect depends on several factors.

“At this stage, it is clear that such a development is unlikely, but this does not mean that Damascus will not attempt to resolve issues and strengthen relations with these countries. In general, the current Syrian authorities should not depend solely on Turkey,” the expert concluded.