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Turkey Faces Growing Regional Tensions Over Syria

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Turkey's October military intervention into Syria is
   increasingly straining relations with its regional allies and
   neighbors, but the country is pushing back against mounting criticism
   of its Syrian incursion.

   In a recent editorial headlined "A threat against the Turkey-Qatar
   alliance," the Daily Sabah, which has close ties to the Turkish
   government, condemned coverage of Turkey's Syrian military operation by
   Qatari-owned news broadcaster Al-Jazeera English. The editorial called
   for the firing of journalists, warning of long-term consequences to
   Turkish-Qatar relations.

   "Although the two countries see eye to eye on many issues, any
   sustainable partnership must be firmly rooted in mutual interests.
   Without reciprocity, any relationship is at risk of falling apart,"
   read last week's editorial.

   The Turkish military operation is on pause after agreements were
   brokered by Washington and Moscow with Ankara.

   With Turkish relations strained with Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt,
   Qatar is one of Ankara's few remaining regional allies.

   "Turkish-Qatar relations are built on good foundations," said Mithat
   Rende, the former Turkish ambassador to Qatar. "But this [Sabah
   editorial] is probably a warning from the [Turkish] presidency, 'You
   should behave. You should show respect.'"

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