How the assassination of Russia’s Turkish ambassador could derail Turkey’s hopes for Syria
The latest victim of Turkey’s climate of insecurity is Andrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey.
Karlov was assassinated Dec. 19 by a 22-year-old police officer. Disguised as a security guard in a black suit, the gunman stood behind Karlov as the ambassador was speaking in an art gallery just yards from the U.S. embassy.
“Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!” he shouted as he pulled the trigger.
Karlov’s death will have consequences reaching far beyond Ankara.
Following the terrorist attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport in June 2016, I explained Turkey’s foreign policy sins and argued that Turkey’s row with Russia over Syria was one of them.