Media: Turkish FM's evolving role signals shift in regional influence

In a recent article, Financial Times highlights that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's evolving role underscores Türkiye's shifting influence in the region.

Around a year into his tenure as Türkiye’s intelligence chief, Hakan Fidan was dispatched to Damascus in 2011 with a critical mission: to convince Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to cease suppressing peaceful protests that were sweeping through the regime.

However, Fidan’s efforts proved futile as Assad’s brutal crackdown escalated into a full-scale civil war, a conflict that displaced millions of refugees into Türkiye, contributed to the rise of ISIS, and ultimately led to Turkish military involvement in the region. 

Despite the setback, Fidan’s role in Syria has evolved dramatically. When he returned to Damascus last December, this time as Türkiye's foreign minister, he was greeted warmly by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a key leader of the Turkish-backed rebels who played a pivotal role in ending Assad’s rule. 

Sharaa's success has positioned Türkiye as the dominant foreign influence in Syria, reshaping the regional dynamics in Ankara’s favour. Türkiye’s growing presence in Syria has bolstered its soft power, providing new economic opportunities, fostering increased trade, and enhancing its regional influence.

However, this expanded role also comes with a range of challenges, risks, and security concerns. One of the most pressing issues for Fidan is the integration of various armed factions, including those supported by Türkiye, into a unified national security structure under Sharaa's leadership. 

A significant concern for Fidan is Israel’s military activity in southern Syria, particularly after Assad’s regime weakened. "The ongoing attacks on the land and new troop movements are a clear provocation," Fidan said. "Israel sees every Arab and Muslim country as a threat, and it’s extremely dangerous. The strategy of keeping all its border states weak is untenable." 

Fidan’s primary concern, however, remains the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-dominated group that has received US support in its battle against ISIS. Türkiye, which sees the SDF as a terrorist group due to its links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has strongly opposed US backing of the SDF.

The PKK has waged a four-decade-long insurgency against Türkiye, and Fidan’s government views the SDF as an extension of this group. Since 2016, Türkiye has launched several military operations in northern Syria, targeting the SDF and its allies, leading to significant tensions with the US.

By Naila Husyenova