A SYRIA-TURKEY-IRAN TRIANGLE IN THE MAKING

National
October 14. 2009 8:37PM UAE

Syrian-Turkish relations are rapidly evolving on all fronts, noted the
pan-Arab daily Al Quds al Arabi in its main leader. The two parties
have signed an agreement to establish a free trade zone and to waive
entry visas for the citizens of both states.

"Syria has started to look northwards to break out of its isolation
in the Arab world, which had been imposed on it by Saudi Arabia and
Egypt at a time when many differences arose over Lebanon."

At the same time, Turkey has about-faced eastwards and started to
embrace its Ottoman legacy after its efforts to join the EU proved
to be fruitless.

It is not yet clear how this Syrian-Turkish entente will influence
the region’s alliances. Countries like Egypt, for instance, are quite
"embarrassed" by Turkey’s dynamism. Syria itself thinks Turkey would
become a serious challenger if it gains full access to the Arab region
by championing all its major causes, especially Palestine’s.

Now, adding Iran to the equation, a Damascus-Ankara-Tehran
triangle would appear to be edging its way to replace the older
Damascus-Cairo-Riyadh bloc which has governed the region for over
30 years.