Question:
Turkish President Erdogan visited Russia on 09/08/2016 while the "aftershocks" of the failed coup attempt in Turkey had not yet ended. Why this haste? Furthermore, what was its purpose, especially since representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the military, and intelligence also visited Russia? Does this visit have a connection to the Syrian crisis, or is it to "repair" the Turkish-Russian relationship after the crisis of the downed Russian plane? May Allah reward you with goodness.
Answer:
To understand the reasons for the haste and its purpose, we review the following points:
Talk of the visit existed before the coup attempt on 15/07/2016. Originally, the summit between the two presidents was scheduled to take place during the G20 summit in China in September 2016. However, the meeting between Russian President Putin and Turkish President Erdogan was expedited to August because the United States was interested in quickly bringing Turkey into the settlement track as an effective tool after other tools (Iran, Russia... etc.) failed. The Turkish Foreign Minister announced the early scheduling of the summit, stating it might be held in August in Russia. (Interfax quoted the Turkish Foreign Minister saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might meet during August in Sochi... Al-Arabiya Net, 02/07/2016). The topic of the visit was discussed within the atmosphere of "reconciliation" so that Turkey could play a role in resolving the Syrian crisis according to American policy. We clarified this in the Answer to a Question we issued on 14/07/2016, where we said: (- America wants the current Turkish role to exert strong pressure on the Syrian opposition to return them to the Geneva process and the peaceful solution... and to threaten to abandon the Syrian opposition if they refuse to join the negotiation process, by demonstrating Turkish-Russian cooperation: "The Russian Foreign Minister said: We hope to conduct contacts between the Russian and Turkish militaries regarding Syria. Al-Arabiya Net 02/07/2016"... and that Turkey no longer opposes Russian intervention in Syria... and it is not unlikely that Turkey’s methods of pressure will exceed political means to military means under the pretext of fighting the organization's terrorism, which is not separated or distinguished from other armed opposition—the same pretext Russia uses when it bombs the opposition! The Russian Foreign Minister's statement about contacts between the Russian and Turkish militaries points to this possibility...). We also added: (- Obama wants to work as his Democratic predecessor Clinton did; Clinton exerted every effort in the last year of his reign to bring the organization and the Jews together in a decisive negotiated solution for the Palestinian issue. Although he failed, he managed to bring Abu Ammar and Ehud Barak together... Now, Obama is exerting effort to bring the opposition and the regime together in a negotiated solution so it can be said he achieved something memorable at the end of his rule. The difference between Clinton’s and Obama’s attempts is that the former’s efforts were prominent before his agents, while Obama works through his agents and tools... and his efforts hide behind them! America during his era shows more reliance on followers. After Iran and its associates, and after Russia, and in light of America's renewed predicament in Syria, America has instructed Erdogan to reconcile with Russia... After the Iranian and Russian interventions reached a stalemate in Syria, America is rushing to push Turkey alongside Iran and Russia to maintain American influence in Syria and eliminate the Islamic character of the Syrian revolution... Thus, Russia, which bombs Syria day and night, has become a partner with Turkey to fight "terrorism" in Syria, and talk between them is occurring in "extremely friendly atmospheres." Moreover, the Russian Foreign Minister is requesting contacts between the Russian and Turkish militaries regarding Syria!!...) — End of quote from our previous answer dated 14/07/2016.
It was expected that the Turkish role would begin urgently. However, the coup attempt by the Kemalist officers loyal to the British frozen the Turkish role and preoccupied the regime with internal problems. This freeze could have continued until Turkey finished dealing with the aftershocks of the failed coup "earthquake," as Erdogan described it. However, what happened at the beginning of August 2016—the rebels' campaign to break the siege of Aleppo and their partial success—made America exploit this campaign to accelerate the Turkish role. Hence, the visit to Russia, the normalization of relations, and the launch of the American political solution with an active Turkish role... America wanted to strip this powerful campaign of its fruit; instead of it being an opening for victory, she made it an opening for negotiations. She made it material for Turkey to promote the "balanced negotiation" mentioned by Erdogan, thinking that Turkey could, through its various means, bring the parties together for an American negotiated solution during Obama's final days, exploiting this "balanced negotiation"!! (Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today called for a regional meeting for Syria; his statement came during a lengthy interview with the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel, broadcasted this Saturday evening... Erdogan added that the situation in Aleppo is sad, but the opposition has restored the balance recently. As-Suriya Net, Al-Khaleej Al-Jadeed 06/08/2016).
And so it was: the visit took place, and this haste from Obama to Erdogan was for the purpose of starting work on gathering the parties in a new "fourth" round of negotiations to conclude Obama's term. This round is what the Turkish Foreign Minister referred to: (Istanbul "Reuters" - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday that talks on the future of Syria must resume and called for a fourth round of Geneva peace talks. Reuters Arabic 05/08/2016)... Thus, the visit and the summit took place.
This summit is considered the concluding step in the process of normalizing relations between Russia and Turkey after the severe tension following the downing of the Russian fighter jet. This normalization process was presented in a humiliating manner for Turkey. Yielding to Putin's conditions, Erdogan apologized for downing the Russian plane on 27/06/2016. Erdogan immediately initiated a call to the Russian President on 29/06/2016 in an atmosphere described as friendly. He was followed by his Foreign Minister, who held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on 01/07/2016 in the Russian city of Sochi. In that meeting, the two ministers also discussed a date for the Putin-Erdogan summit in Petersburg. Then came the Turkish Foreign Minister's hint at the possibility of granting Russia military bases in Turkey to carry out its strikes in Syria. This collapse in Turkish positions toward the Russian side was not because Turkey was pained by the economic sanctions Russia imposed on Ankara, but rather exclusively because of the depth of the American predicament in Syria. America wanted to push Turkey alongside Russia and Iran to settle the Syrian crisis. For all these reasons, the humiliating image of Turkish concessions to the Russians emerged—it was because of Turkey's link to America and its implementation of American policy. Hence this Turkish rush.
Erdogan insisted on completing the visit to Russia, which was scheduled before the failed coup attempt of 15/07/2016, despite being heavily occupied with the internal situation in Turkey, dealing with what he described as an "earthquake" and his fear of "aftershocks." He asked the crowds in Turkey during the massive rally in Istanbul on Sunday 07/08/2016 to stay in the public squares until Wednesday—meaning until after his return from Russia—fearing new movements by the military loyal to the British. This was also despite the escalation of brutal Russian crimes in Aleppo. Yet, despite all this, he insisted on holding his meeting with Putin and not postponing it, due to his intense desire to turn the page on the past with Russia and the strength of the American push for Turkey toward the Russian direction. Putin alluded to this insistence by saying: ("The Turkish President found the opportunity to visit Russia despite the difficult situation in Turkey after the failed coup attempt on the night of July 15 and 16," Russia Today 09/08/2016).
It was clear that the Syrian crisis was the pivotal topic in the Erdogan-Putin summit. The two presidents did not discuss the Syrian crisis during the talks involving the delegation members; rather, they postponed the meeting regarding Syria until the evening with the participation of the Foreign Ministers and intelligence representatives to discuss ways of settling the Syrian issue. Putin, commenting on the upcoming meeting, said: "We will exchange information and look for a solution." Postponing the meeting regarding Syria until the evening and excluding the delegation members except for Foreign Affairs and Intelligence indicates the secrecy and great importance both parties attach to the Syrian subject. After removing previous obstacles, it has become the issue of issues for both parties, and what is required by America is to bring the parties—the regime and the opposition—to the negotiation table as a conclusion to Obama's era!
During and after the summit, the Turkish role began to appear effectively:
a- (Istanbul (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday that talks on the future of Syria must resume and called for a fourth round of Geneva peace talks. Reuters Arabic 05/08/2016)
b- (Turkish President "Recep Tayyip Erdogan" today called for a regional meeting for Syria; his statement came during a lengthy interview with the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel, broadcasted this Saturday evening... Erdogan added that the situation in Aleppo is sad, but the opposition has restored the balance recently. As-Suriya Net, Al-Khaleej Al-Jadeed 06/08/2016)
c- (For its part, the Russian News Agency quoted Turkish Ambassador to Russia Umit Yardim yesterday as saying that the Turkish government believes the current Syrian leadership can participate in talks aimed at resolving the crisis in Syria. TASS news agency quoted Yardim as saying that Ankara does not oppose the current Syrian leadership playing some role in a political transition process. As-Sabah 12/08/2016)
d- As for the Prime Minister, he was the frontrunner regarding the political solution with the Syrian regime since the start of reconciliation with Russia before the coup. Al-Arabiya Net reported on 13/07/2016 under the title: "Surprise... Turkey speaks of 'normalization' with the Syrian regime": Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim stated: (Ankara (Turkey) - Reuters: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday that he is confident of restoring his country's normal relations with Syria. Al-Arabiya Net, 13/07/2016). Likewise, the BBC reported: (Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that Turkey seeks to develop good relations with Syria, in the latest stage of its effort to improve relations with its neighbors. BBC Arabic 13/07/2016)
Thus, Turkey has entered the depths of the Syrian crisis effectively, but not to support the people of Syria and save them from the brutality of Russia and Iran. Instead, it is to be with Russia and Iran in a "satanic trio" that facilitates their crimes and assists them in implementing an American surrender solution through negotiations with the tyrant of Ash-Sham... That summit which brought Putin and Erdogan together is entirely evil; its result was that Turkey publicly retreated from everything it claimed regarding support for the revolution in Syria. This retreat reached the point where the Turkish Foreign Minister stated that Russia is asking Turkey for "coordinates" in Syria—meaning the locations of the rebels gathered by Turkish intelligence—to direct Russian strikes against them. Due to this American insistence on giving Russia what it wants, it was decided after the summit that a high-level intelligence delegation from Turkey would travel to Moscow the day following the summit, immediately.
The Turkish Foreign Minister stated on 10/08/2016 to Anatolia Agency (that the viewpoints between his country and Russia are identical regarding the necessity of a ceasefire in Syria, providing humanitarian aid, and finding a political solution, and that a strong cooperation mechanism will be built with Moscow in Syria for that purpose, adding that the Director of Intelligence and a representative from the Foreign Ministry and another from the Turkish military will discuss these files in Saint Petersburg that same evening. Al-Jazeera Net, 11/08/2016).
What appeared in the Turkish Foreign Minister's statement (ceasefire in Syria, providing humanitarian aid, and finding a political solution) is precisely the American position, which is also what Russia calls for and fights for. The speed of sending intelligence, military, and foreign ministry officials to Moscow immediately after Erdogan’s departure indicates that Turkey has completed the sides of the Russian-Iranian-Turkish triangle! The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister had emphasized "that the region needs good relations between his country, Russia, and Turkey. Ibrahim Rahimpur called for new cooperation under the formula 'Turkey-Russia-Iran' and confirmed that his country is ready to move in this direction." Al-Jazeera Net, 08/08/2016). On Friday 12/08/2016, Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, met with Turkish officials in Ankara, who confirmed the agreement to intensify joint efforts with Iran regarding the Syrian crisis. Erdogan received Iranian Minister Javad Zarif at the Presidential Palace in a closed meeting for three hours after which nothing was announced, indicating the haste and urgency of the American arrangements to bring Turkey onto the Syrian stage and assist Russia and Iran in implementing American tasks.
- From all this, it becomes clear that Turkey has strongly entered into finding a political solution in Syria the American way, with a noticeable haste despite Turkey not yet being settled in its internal affairs after the coup attempt. All this indicates the intensity of pressure from Washington. It appears that Turkey will proceed according to this American plan with Iran and Russia as follows:
Politically: It will become unmistakably clear to the rebels that Turkey has changed its policy and has begun to move toward the Syrian regime, Iran, and Russia. Turkey is calling on the rebels and pressuring them to accept the American formula for a solution in Geneva, which is to negotiate with the regime, agree with it on the future of Syria, and enter into a joint government between the rebels and the regime. Likewise, it will pressure the rebels under the guise of humanitarian aspects to prevent the rebels' siege of regime areas in Aleppo, and promote "balanced negotiation" on the grounds that the rebels achieved victories in Aleppo, making their negotiation from a position of strength. This will be mixed with methods of pressure and then a ceasefire preceding a political process that achieves some "victory" for Obama before the end of his term in late January next year. Perhaps this is what the Turkish Prime Minister alluded to regarding the next six months in his statement (Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday that it is expected that very important developments will occur in Syria during the next six months. Yildirim's statements came after a joint press conference on Friday bringing together Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. In contrast, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country is happy with the Russian-Turkish rapprochement, emphasizing that resolving the dispute with Turkey regarding Syria is possible through intensifying dialogue. He pointed out that cooperation between Iran and Turkey on Syria will strongly support the chances for a peaceful solution. Al-Arabiya Net, 13/08/2016).
Militarily: Under the title of fighting the State Organization (ISIS), Turkey will enter the battles in Syria in an alliance with Russia, which will soon turn into a joint force to impose a ceasefire. This includes providing all facilities to Russia to bomb the rebels using "site coordinates" that Russia does not know but Turkish intelligence possesses. Turkey may offer military bases to Russia to facilitate its criminal mission in slaughtering Muslims in Syria.
Iran is doing the same, providing bases to Russia to facilitate this goal. Coordination between these countries has actually begun:
(Cavusoglu also said that Turkish planes will join operations against the State Organization, adding "We will study all details. We have always called Russia to joint operations against the organization." Al-Jazeera Net, 01/08/2016). Naturally, as is Russia's pretext, this will include all resistance fighters because their locations are not separated!
Today, a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry said "that long-range Tu-22M3 bombers and Su-34 bombers took off on Sunday, August 16, from Hamadan Airbase in Iran and carried out massive strikes on sites of the 'ISIS' and 'Al-Nusra Front' terrorist organizations in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, and Idlib in Syria"... Earlier, media outlets revealed that Tu-22M3 bombers belonging to the Russian Air Force arrived at Hamadan Airbase in Iran to participate in directing strikes on 'ISIS' sites in Syria. Russia Today 16/08/2016).
- This is what America is planning to implement through its tools in Syria... This is their plot:
وَمَكْرُ أُولَئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
"And the plotting of those—it will perish." (Surah Fatir 35:10)
For in Ash-Sham there are men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah. They are clear in their matter, and they will not, by Allah’s permission, allow those wicked ones to turn the rebels' victories into a path for negotiations. This trio, drowning in its crimes, will not succeed, by Allah’s permission, nor will the administration of the trio from Washington succeed in attaining what they desire from the land of Ash-Sham. Just as America’s previous tools failed, its subsequent tools will fail, by Allah’s permission... The tyrants have learned over the past five years that in Ash-Sham there are sincere and truthful crowds whose resolve has not been weakened by the hordes of America, Iran, Russia, their associates, and followers, nor even by those who abandoned those truthful crowds in the land of Ash-Sham. They will remain, by Allah’s permission, firm and standing, not bowing. They will establish the law of Allah, the Rightly Guided Khilafah, sincere to Allah (swt) and truthful to His Messenger (saw). Then, they will cleanse the lands of Islam of all the enemies of Islam, and Allah will come to them from where they did not expect:
وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
"And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." (Surah Al-Hajj 22:40)
13th Dhu al-Qi'dah 1437 AH 16/08/2016 CE