The West's Race to Damascus and Türkiye's Strategic Stand

When the Americans met with Ahmed Al-Shaara—whom they had labeled a terrorist and put a $10 million bounty on—we ran the headline on our website: “BROUGHT HIM TO HIS FEET FOR FREE.”

Our newspaper followed up with the headline: “A DIPLOMATIC RUSH TO DAMASCUS.” Western countries were lining up to meet with Al-Shaara. Italian Prime Minister Meloni announced they were ready for dialogue. The German government sent a delegation. France stepped foot in Damascus for the first time in 12 years and raised its flag over its previously shuttered embassy. British diplomats met with Ahmed Al-Shaara. The European Union declared it was ready to contribute to Syria’s reconstruction.

Unsurprisingly, the Shia world responded with a flood of conspiracy theories. The most cliché among them: “See? The West is reshaping our region through this man.” However, wasting time on the amateurish anti-propaganda efforts of Iran and its proxies is a huge disservice to the region. In Lebanon and Syria, as the Shia Crescent wanes, the concept of the “Sunni Full Moon,” as proposed by İsmail Kılıçarslan, is rising. This concept must be developed further—without falling into the trap of political sectarianism.

As the balance of power in our region shifts, the door must not be reopened to the sectarian, divisive language nurtured by Shias, Alawites, and, to some extent, Alevis, despite their victimhood narratives. Take, for example, the call for a protest in Samandağ on behalf of the Alawites against “massacres in Syria.” It was nothing more than a spark attempt, even though none of the desired provocations materialized in Syria until now. The protest organizers were so devoid of material that they resorted to using an iconic photo of thousands fleeing the Yarmouk camp—destroyed by Assad himself.

The statement released alongside the call was a web of lies and slander. But one line caught my attention: “We cannot accept any faith, including the Alawi faith, being targeted for the actions of a regime.” This objection is entirely valid. Bashar al-Assad’s brutal, hateful Alawite identity cannot tarnish all Alawites. However, one must ask, “Where was Samandağ’s community while Assad was massacring Syrian civilians for the past 13 years?” It’s worth pointing out their hypocrisy—protesting sectarianism while engaging in it themselves.

As Syria’s people shake off the deadly weight of 61 years of Baathist rule and rebuild their state, what we see in Samandağ is nothing more than theater. Speaking of theater, I came across this post from December 18:

“In 2015, even in the midst of war, it was impossible to find seats at the theater in Damascus. When we went, there were no seats left. On our second attempt, we sat on the floor by the stage to watch the play. Now, liberals, nationalists, and all the mercenaries, thugs, and killers of imperialism have turned an entire country into hell.”

This was posted by the so-called “BSM Collective,” which claims to create content for the working class. Unsurprisingly, they’ve also produced videos praising Stalin, one of history’s bloodiest dictators. These socialist psychopaths, who idolize any Muslim or Turk-killer they can find, glorify struggling to get theater tickets in Damascus while ignoring the horrific torture happening in Sednaya Prison. We must continually remind them of their hypocrisy.

Meanwhile, let’s not lose focus on the West’s rush to Syria. As the state is rebuilt, America’s and Europe’s humanitarian rhetoric should excite no one. For example, the West’s removal of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its terrorist list is neither a concession nor a favor—it’s a necessity. Without legitimizing HTS, they would find themselves on the same side as Bashar al-Assad. This explains their scramble to Damascus, trying to escape their share of the blame for 13 years of carnage.

For 13 years, the U.S. and Europe spent vast sums to support Assad’s regime, encircle our region, and pressure Türkiye. They armed and equipped PYD, PKK terrorists, and their covert proxy, Daesh. If the West wants to do any good in Syria, it should clear the rubble caused by the destruction it enabled.

Türkiye’s position is clear, and the Syrian revolutionaries’ stance is unwavering. As Ahmed Al-Shaara emphasized in his interview with our writer Yasin Aktay:

“In rebuilding the new Syrian state, Türkiye has many priorities. We will protect societal bonds. This victory belongs not just to the Syrian people but also to the Turkish people.”

President Erdoğan, in an interview upon returning from Egypt, highlighted Türkiye’s pivotal role in shaping the region:

“Our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will go there as well. Together, they will work on the new framework.”

In closing, for 13 years, certain groups have exploited Syria to dominate Türkiye’s political agenda and drain the country’s energy. Now their purpose has vanished, and they are floundering. All their predictions have collapsed, and those who aligned themselves with Assad have lost credibility. But rest assured, they will try to stage a comeback—through lies, provocations, and deceit.

As history takes its course, Türkiye’s public discourse must not be hijacked again by Assad-funded propaganda. Instead, we must remain steadfast and call them out for what they are. As Syria transforms from a monumental problem into a beacon of hope for the region and the Islamic world, let’s not just watch the story unfold. Let’s be the ones to write it.