The change of United States foreign policy toward Turkey’s military invasions in Syria (2016-2019)

Abstract

This research aims to prove that the contestation between domestic and international variables in foreign policies is the reason behind the change of US foreign policy toward Turkish military intervention in Syria. On the early days of the Syrian Crisis, the US gave their support toward two initial Turkey military incursions in Syria, the Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch. However, the US foreign policy changed when they are faced with the third Turkish military incursions to Syria, the Operation Peace Spring. Though it was conducted with the same objective of two previous incursions, the US condemned this operation and sanctioned Turkey for it. Whilst condemning it, the US also gave their indirect support to Operation Peace Spring and contribute to the success of the operation by withdrawing their troops, leaving the Kurds militant vulnerable to this invasion. Reflecting from the aforementioned change, this research aims to understand factors that lead up to the change of US foreign policy toward Turkish military intervention in Syria. By utilising the framework of neoclassical realism, this research argues that the change of US foreign policy toward Turkish military invasions in Syria was prompted by the contestation between international factors, which is the systemic stimuli, and domestic factors, including leader images, statesociety relations, as well as strategic culture.