Analysis: Turkey’s Syria Sanctions: “A Soft Start”

In al-Akhbar, Timur Goksel argues that “the much touted unilateral sanctions Turkey plans to impose on Syria are likely to be ‘soft sanctions,’ keeping the door open for a future rapprochement.” Regardless of whether the sanctions are indeed “soft,” “the latest remarks by Erdogan and his colleagues are signs that they have given up on the Assad regime.” Goksel writes that Turkey will have to reconcile its plans for unilateral sanctions with its stated aims to not harm Turkey’s interests.

Turkey is left with limited options for “a list of sanctions that would mirror the prime minister’s tough language.” Goksel adds, ”There will be risks for Turkey, especially in the short-term and in the realm of economic relations but Turkey sees its moves as political capital that will pay dividends in the long run.”