T urkmens and Turkomans living in Syria and Iraq have come under Turkish influence in recent years, especially in the last decade. Turkish authorities and analytical centers support their efforts through a variety of systems (political, military, economic, cultural, ideological and so on).

The number of the Turkmen nationalist organizations has sharply increased since the beginning of the Syrian War. Moreover, these organizations began to receive financial, military and ideological support from Turkey. Numerous influential political organizations, such as the Syrian Turkmen Movement, the Syrian Turkmen Bloc and the Syrian Democratic Turkmen Movement have their offices in Turkey and they collaborate with Turkish Special Services. There are also large and small militarized Turkmen groups, such as the Syrian Turkmen Brigades and the Jabal al-Turkman Brigades, receiving support from Turkey [1].

Experts emphasize the strategic importance of the Syrian Turkmen Armed Forces from the perspective of Turkish interests in Syria.  Ankara supports their armed factions and even allows them to cross the Turkish border which provides the groups an opportunity to carry out military operations from the territory of Turkey.  One account of Turkey being used as a platform for launching attacks was in spring of 2014, when Turkmen armed groups with Turkey’s involvement occupied the Armenian-populated Kessab.

Turkish political analyst Sinem Cengiz notes that “Turkish President Erdogan considers the Syrian Turkmen to be natural allies, not only due to their ethnic links but also because they share a common enemy: The Assad regime”. Nevertheless, the author believes that despite Turkey’s support the Turkmen have been unable to establish themselves as a strong political force. However, their presence serves as a significant tool for Turkey to exert its influence in both Iraq and Syria. Turkmen also cooperate with Turkey in Libya, where Ankara has sent thousands of mercenaries (the majority of whom are Turkmen), who support the Libyan Government of National Accord.

2500. Oliver, analyst and researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies in Istanbul, notes that most of the Syrian terrorists who left for Libya are members of the Sultan Murad and Sultan Mehmed groups which are part of the Syrian Turkmen brigades. He emphasizes that an agreement was reached between them through individual contracts, which have been signed for a 3 to 6 month period, with a salary of $2000 - $2500.

About 400,000 Syrian Turkmen live in Turkey, but only 5000 out of 110,000 Turkmen who settled in Turkey during the Syrian conflict were granted Turkish citizenship. It is more difficult for a Syrian Turkmen to obtain Turkish citizenship than an Arab Syrian, due to Turkey policy in Syria in which their presence can help influence Turkish objectives. [2].

Lastly, non-governmental organizations and foundations founded abroad by the Turkmen of Syria and Iraq, implement a number of economic, social and cultural programs among their communities. The most active are the Turkmen structures operating in Turkey, the number of which exceeds a dozen, for example the Syrian Turkmen Movement and the Syrian Turkmen Platform.

[1] Ерицян А., Тюркский фактор во внешнеполитической стратегии турецкой Республики в Сирии, Вестник ЗабГУ.2020. Т. 26. N 1, с. 90-91
[2] The Turkmen: their heart in Syria, their mind in Turkey