Turkey’s Strategic Reasoning behind Operation Olive Branch

What is the strategic reasoning behind Turkey’s military operation against the PKK in the Afrin region? What does Turkey’s game plan mean for the region? What are the implications of Turkey’s military operation for the future of the Turkey-U.S.-Russia triangle?

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Turkey s Strategic Reasoning behind Operation Olive Branch
The Operation Olive Branch and the US Policy in Syria

The Operation Olive Branch and the US Policy in Syria

What are the policy divergences between Turkey and the US in Syria? What is the US policy to stabilize Syria after the demise of ISIS? How will the Afrin operation influence US-Turkey relations?

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Astriking headline, "America Alone," on the cover of the latest issue of Time illuminated the sad state of U.S. foreign policy in the international system.

Claiming Turkey's Afrin operation harms the U.S. or NATO serve the interests only of countries like Russia and China

With the liberation of Afrin, Turkey will have dealt a major blow to PKK terrorists and their sponsors and seriously undermine efforts to create a terror corridor across northern Syria

U.S. officials underestimating Turkey's security concerns on its Syrian border damages NATO allies Turkey and the U.S.'s bilateral relations

Ankara deepens partnership with Moscow as White House confused on Syria

The Pentagon continued to arm, equip and train the People's Protection Units (YPG) despite Ankara's concerns and criticism.

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Ankara deepens partnership with Moscow as White House confused on
Afrin operation's effects on Turkish-US relations

Afrin operation's effects on Turkish-US relations

Washington needs to understand the legitimate reasons why Turkey launched its anti-terrorism operation against the YPG in northern Syria

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Now it's Washington's turn to decide.

If Washington reconsiders its YPG policy, it will understand its irrational expectations of Ankara

What does the U.S. really want in Syria?

Turkey's plan to build a wall on the Syrian border ruins the YPG's plans, and that is why it is trying to do its best to prevent the construction of the wall by killing workers

Operation Olive Branch is a more difficult operation in comparison to Operation Euphrates Shield because both Daesh and the YPG are terrorist organizations, but Daesh seemed to be a more legitimate target for the international community, whereas there is difference of opinion concerning the status of the PYD, even among Turkey's NATO allies

Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research experts: Operation Olive Branch meets international law requirments

As a NATO ally, the U.S. shouldn't have underestimated Turkey's security concerns and instead, should have understood how serious Ankara is in dealing with YPG terrorists in northern Syria

The U.S. to continue the militarization of the YPG without using terms such as army or border force..

Effective policy coordination and clarified functions are desperately needed from the democratically elected branches of the U.S. government, especially from Congress and the White House, but chances for improvement on those fronts are grim

The Trump administration backing PKK-affiliated YPG terrorists near the Turkish border is an unacceptable move that will end bilateral relations with Ankara

Washington's risky game with the YPG and Turkey's severe military response to this organization has a potential to bring the strategic cooperation between these two countries to the brink of collapse.

U.S. officials responsible for Washington's Syria policy have been suffering from a lapse of reason when it comes to judging Turkey's priorities. It would appear that they are content with the prospect of driving Turkey-U.S. relations to the ground by ignoring Ankara's concerns about the PKK-affiliated People's Protection Units (YPG) presence in northern Syria.

The YPG is the Syrian arm of the outlawed PKK that has been fighting against the Turkish state for years, so it is impossible for Ankara to accept any presence of these militants near its borders