Turkey Is Determined To Expand Its Influence In The New Syria

That Could Cause Tensions With The Arab World And Israel.

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Mr Asaad al-Shaibani's professors were puzzled when the postgraduate student, a Syrian refugee, told them in November that he would have to miss a few classes. A few weeks later, Mr al-Shaibani resurfaced in Damascus in the Cabinet of Syria's new interim government. On January 15, he made an official visit to Turkey, where he had lived for over a decade, as Syria's new foreign minister.

No country has as much to gain from a stable Syria as Turkey, and few have as much to lose if it implodes. Turkey is home to more than three million Syrian refugees, and wants Syria to be safe enough for many to return. Nor does any other outside power have as far-reaching an agenda for Syria. Turkey wants to smother Kurdish autonomy in Syria's north, help build a new Syrian army and regain influence in a country it once controlled for 400 years.

Turkish officials have brushed aside claims, aired by Mr Donald Trump, America's newly inaugurated president, that their country was behind the rebel offensive that ousted Mr Bashar al-Assad, Syria's former dictator. But signs of the outsize role Turkey expects to play in the new Syria are hard to miss. Turkey's President, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has offered to help Syria come up with a new Constitution. Turkey's Foreign Minister, Mr Hakan Fidan, and its top spy were the first high-level foreign dignitaries to visit Damascus after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power. Turkish businessmen rushed after them.

A day after the rebels entered Damascus, Turkey's top construction and cement companies saw their shares surge. The country's national carrier, Turkish Airlines, will resume flights to Syria on January 23.