The Syrian crisis crashed onto neighbouring Turkey’s doorstep three
years ago and the humanitarian, policy and security costs continue to
rise. After at least 720,000 Syrian refugees, over 75 Turkish fatalities
and nearly $3 billion in spending, frustration and fatigue are kicking
in. Turkey’s humanitarian outreach, while morally right and in line with
international principles, remains an emergency response. Ankara needs
to find a sustainable, long-term arrangement with the international
community to care for the Syrians who arrive daily.
While spared the
worst of the sectarian and military spillover, Turks are reminded of the
security risks by deadly car bombs and armed incidents on their
territory, especially as northern Syria remains an unpredictable
no-man’s-land. The conflict was not of its making, but Ankara has in
effect become a party. Unable to make a real difference by itself, it
should focus on protecting its border and citizens, invigorate recent
efforts to move back from the ruling party’s Sunni Muslim-oriented
foreign policy to one of sectarian neutrality and publicly promote a
compromise political solution in Syria.
