Is Syria a Lost Cause?

By Constantinos Kyprios*

Turkey has now established a firm foothold in Syria, and this is part of a broader strategic geopolitical plan aimed at positioning itself as the key player in the geopolitical game of the Eastern Mediterranean. This strategy seeks to establish Turkey as the dominant power in the wider region so that it can impose its own terms.

This is the result of a long-standing policy that began with providing economic and military assistance to Azerbaijan and continued with support for pro-Turkish forces involved in the Syrian civil war. It was followed by intervention in Libya, as well as involvement in other regions outside the Eastern Mediterranean, such as Somalia and Qatar.

Syria, therefore, constitutes a key pillar of Turkey’s geostrategic and defense policy. It represents a critical flashpoint, centered around the effort to expand Turkish influence in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean — particularly in the area near Cyprus.

Can Greece respond to this challenge? And more importantly — should it?

The issue with Turkey is that it now seeks to place Greece in a position of competition across the entire Eastern Mediterranean. As such, the Hellenic Republic must respond accordingly. Syria is emerging as yet another point of friction. A positive aspect, however, is that Turkey’s involvement in Syria brings it into conflict with Israel and Saudi Arabia. The question remains, though, to what extent Greece should become involved in this matter.

Another issue concerns the protection of religious minorities with ties to Orthodoxy. Greece’s presence in the region could serve as a projection of its diplomatic and military power, contributing to the strengthening of its influence in a geopolitically sensitive zone.

At the same time, it would provide Greece with the opportunity to gain a strategic advantage in Turkey’s “soft underbelly,” in regions dominated by Kurdish populations. Furthermore, it could strengthen its ties with Israel and Saudi Arabia, while also offering the possibility of joint action and protection of Cyprus from the east.

Constantinos Kyprios

Strategic Analyst