Turkey, Syrian Opposition, and the United States: An Unlikely Trio?

Syrian anti-government groups reached a U.S.-backed deal in Doha. An interesting catalyst in the process leading to Doha agreement was U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remarks in late October 2012, where she harshly criticized the Syrian National Council (SNC), pointed to the radical elements in its ranks, and urged a new leadership structure that is more representative and that commands greater support inside and outside the country. Her remarks triggered interesting positive and negative reactions in Turkey. Those reactions might also give clues about the evolution of the dynamics between Turkey, the United States, and the Syrian opposition. Those clues were important to ponder in order to understand the Turkish-U.S. cooperation in Syria in the new era.