By Prarthana Mitra
Leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran met in Turkey on Wednesday, to discuss the prospects of ending the Syrian War, just a day after members of United States President Donald Trump’s administration expressed his interest in removing troops from Syria.
In a move that both consolidates their individual interests in war-ravaged Syria and diplomatically isolates the USA, the three Presidents assembled in Ankara to pledge cooperation on matters of resolving the crisis. A statement released after the meeting said the three countries are determined to speed up their efforts to ensure calm on the ground in Syria.
They have also urged the international community to extend a helping hand for financial aid, rehabilitation and reconstruction. This marks the second time in past few months that the three Presidents have met to discuss the conflict.
Is America playing the second fiddle in this war?
The political and diplomatic rivalry between the United States on one hand and Russia and Iran on the other, has played itself out on Syrian soil as well. Ever since the war began, US troops fighting against the militant Islamic State (IS) have clashed on numerous occasions with Russian and Iranian proxies, who lend their whole-hearted support to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey and the US on the other hand, have been NATO allies but relations between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Ergodan and Trump began to deteriorate when the former blamed the Pentagon for sympathising and cooperating with the Kurdish faction in Syria, which is apparently an offshoot of the Kurdish militant groups in Turkey. However, Turkish troops made significant victories in the last few months, in fighting off the Kurds in northwest Syria, who are incidentally American militarys key ally in their fight against the Islamic State.
Trump’s latest response
US president Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he was consulting with allies, notable among them is Saudi Arabias King Salman. According to a press release from the White House, they discussed joint efforts to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and counter Iranian efforts to exploit the Syrian conflict to pursue its destabilizing regional ambitions.
However, on Wednesday, Trump went back on his earlier decision to withdraw 20,000 troops from the region, saying that that the United States is committed to continuing to fight the Islamic State in Syria, and the US military presence in the region is necessary to eradicate the remaining presence of the IS.
“Were not going to immediately withdraw but neither is the president willing to back a long-term commitment,” said a senior administration official told media sources. The official added Trump wants other countries in the area as well as the United Nations to take charge and provide stability in the region.