The news of the capture of Aleppo by what are called "rebel militias" was a heartbreaking of anyone who knows Syria. There is no family in that country (unless it is corrupted by its privileges) that has not sacrificed a son or a brother since the beginning of the war in 2011.
The biggest blow of the last few days was not the loss of the city, but the Army's retreat WITHOUT EVEN FIRING A SHOT! Forget for a moment the subsequent pyrotechnic choreography intended to hide the backstage: this is what happened.
A few years ago, to liberate Aleppo, tens of thousands of Syrians died, children, adults and elderly people who swelled the numbers of a meat grinder.
The shock does not therefore come from the news, that is, the loss of one of the oldest cities on the planet, but from the way: what appears to be the outcome of a clear agreement.
Between whom? Let's look away from Aleppo... For a long time, various areas such as Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), Syria or Libya (just to name a few), have opposed Russia and Türkiye.
In the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Turkey supported vassal Azerbaijan, while Russia had a military alliance with Armenia: Artsakh was finally taken in 2024. without Russian opposition from the Azeris.
In Syria, Moscow (in possession of some strategic military bases) supported the government of Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey supported and fueled the revolts since 2011: today the north of the country is being handed over to “Turkish-led” terrorists.
Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after the assassination of a Russian pilot (Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 downed in 2015), have “fallen in love” over the years thanks to a pragmatic relationship based on common interests.
Let's name a few:
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Turkey is a major customer of Russian gas, with strategic projects such as the TurkStream pipeline; it also allows the circumvention of Western energy sanctions on the Russian Federation via Azerbaijan. Russia is therefore a crucial economic partner for Turkey, with significant trade agreements (including nuclear power plants).
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Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system marked a turning point, demonstrating Ankara's independence from NATO. Several sources, on the other hand, report "equal" supplies and transits of ammunition, weapons and resources to the two sides in Ukraine by Ankara.
Despite the “necessary” differences on strategic issues (let us repeat: Turkey would be a NATO country), the relationship between the two leaders is excellent today. Perhaps excessive.
That politics can save human lives is certainly not unpleasant. That the same can make fun of the sacrifice of other people's lives is something different and, as our politicians say, "unacceptable".
In Libya, Turkey (today the “tipping point” thanks to someone’s white flag…) controls the government in Tripoli, while Russia supports the one in Benghazi.
After selling out Armenians and Syrians, will Libyans be Putin's next gift to Erdogan? Or someone, after cleaning the house, will it start to not be used anymore?
Photo: Kremlin
