Over the past month we’ve seen reports that after more than a decade of trying to overthrow the Assad regime in Syria, Turkey’s President Erdogan is now open to resetting relations with President Bashar al-Assad. Henri Barkey, the Cohen Professor of International Relations at Lehigh University and Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to look into Erdogan’s u-turn when it comes to Assad, and break down what this could mean for the broader region, especially given the Russian and Iranian presence there.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Syria and Turkey: A path to reconciliation, or a defeat of the opposition?

As Erdogan woos Assad, is Turkey-Syria reconciliation rhetoric or reality?

US emphasizes importance of Prespa Agreement compliance for North Macedonia

Wildfire in Greek-Bulgarian border rages for 14th day, burning 1,500 hectares