Three Mistakes Turkey Made That Dragged It Into Conflict With Russia

Turkey seems to have fallen into its own trap: its covert support of Daesh has led to indirect confrontation with Russia, but the shootdown of a Russian bomber and a further escalation of relations with Moscow have led to direct confrontation between the two, greatly annoying Ankara’s western partners, according to an article in Le Huffington Post.

Turkey has made a number of “very bad decisions”: by taking up an ambiguous position in Syria, it has started a brawl with Russia and in so doing annoying its western partners, journalist Romain Herreros wrote in his article for the newspaper.



Both were very unpleased with Ankara’s contradictory attitude towards the jihadist group Daesh (also known as ISIL/ISIS) and its pursuit of the Kurds, which France very much counted upon in its fight against the terrorists.


A Syrian Kurdish militia member of YPG patrols near a Turkish army tank as Turks work to build a new Ottoman tomb in the background in Esme village in Aleppo province, Syria, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015
The author then singled out the three major mistakes which led Turkey into a confrontation with Moscow and set it on course to diplomatic isolation.

Backing of Daesh

Regardless of the vehement denials of any oil purchases from the jihadists, there is plenty of evidence of clear links between Ankara and Daesh.

Among other evidences, the author cites the evidence of direct dealings between the terrorist organization and Turkey obtained by the US intelligence after an attack on the compound of a Daesh leader Abu Sayyaf in Syria in May.


This is not the only evidence that has been provided. On Wednesday Russia’s Defense Ministry presented irrefutable evidence, including satellite images, of the illegal oil smuggling into Turkey from Syria.
Earlier, a major-general from the Free Syrian Army told Sputnik Arabic that they had the copies of the oil contracts between Turkey and Daesh.

Apart from just moral side of the issue, the author explained, this activity has not prevented Turkey from being targeted by Daesh on its own territory and dragged Turkey into confrontation with Moscow, as an abettor of terrorism.

Indirect Confrontation With Russia

Ankara has been supporting the jihadists because they are fighting with President Assad and the Kurds. The Turkish president wanted to accelerate the resignation of President Assad through the jihadists, to be able to establish a Sunni regime across the border. Erdogan was somewhat confident that President Putin wouldn't support the legitimate Syrian president.



By following the logic of “friends of my enemies are my enemies” Turkey has found itself in confrontation with Moscow.

The consequences of such a mistake are the lack of trust and confidence from the Western partners and an aggravation of ties with Moscow.

Obstinacy

Deadlocked, Turkey had nothing to do but follow the logic of escalation. The shooting down of the Russian bomber only proves its stubbornness.


Even if Erdogan continues to defend the sovereignty of his airspace, it is quite clear he did not to calculate the consequences of such an incident.
The short-term consequence of this mistake is the weakening of the prospective for a joint coalition when Presidents Putin and Obama were nearing a positive decision.

In the long term, Turkey won’t any longer be considered a stabilizing player in the region, as it only contributed to “creating of a monster” while sabotaging any efforts to prevent it.