Following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad's government, Syria has become a battleground for political influence among Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, according to The Wall Street Journal.
These nations have offered financial and technical aid to the new Syrian administration, including help in rebuilding civilian infrastructure and supplying electricity. Jordan and the UAE have also expressed intentions to assist.
Experts cited by the publication believe the Gulf monarchies aim to mitigate the risk of new Islamist movements and the resurgence of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Muslim Brotherhood (all banned in Russia). "Saudi Arabia's goal is to counterbalance Turkey’s significant influence in the new Syria," said Fawaz Gerges, a professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
The article notes that Riyadh, having lost to Tehran in the battle for influence over Iraq after Saddam Hussein's fall, is using humanitarian aid in Syria to "counter Ankara" in the Arab republic. The rivalry between the kingdom and Turkey, according to the report, traces back to the Ottoman Empire and the more recent competition for Middle Eastern influence following the Arab Spring.
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Photo: Bernard Gagnon/Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS