Turkish-Saudi boots in Syria: Who stands to gain the most from invasion?

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Turkish-Saudi boots in Syria: Who stands to gain the most from invasion?

February 24th, 2016

Awake Goy

While tensions are simmering over the prospect of a Turkish-Saudi ground operation in Syria, one thing is clear: a longstanding war in the region would play directly into the hands of US war hawks and the military-industrial complex, Pakistani analyst Salman Rafi Sheikh believes.
Although Russia and Saudi Arabia have apparently reached an understanding regarding their oil policies, in the eyes of Riyadh the successful Russo-Syrian military campaign is a red rag to a bull, according to Salman Rafi Sheikh, research-analyst of International Relations and Pakistan’s foreign and domestic affairs.

However, with the best will in the world, Saudi Arabia cannot unleash a ground campaign to topple Syrian legitimate President Bashar al-Assad on its own.

“Not only does it [Riyadh] lack the required military capacity to make a direct intervention on its own, but also the political will to face the combined forces of Iran, Russia and Syria,” Sheikh writes in his article for New Eastern Outlook.

To achieve its ambitious goals Riyadh needs a backer, or “external mentor,” to orchestrate the potential operation. Therefore, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that the “deployment of Saudi troops to Syria is up to the United States,” the analyst explains.

The question remains open whether Riyadh’s military aims have sympathizers in Washington.

According to Sheikh, Saudi Arabia’s ground operation plan has been “welcomed” by US war hawks.

“The US’ position with regard to resolution of the conflict in Syria and Russian operations is, nonetheless, rooted in the ‘war games’ the US has itself tacitly initiated and continues to earn profit from. No wonder, Saudi Arabia’s offer to supply ground troops was ‘welcomed’ by the United States,” the analyst writes.

Sheikh calls attention to the fact that all the weapons the House of Saud has been using in Yemen and would possibly use in Syria are US-made.

“The wars in Yemen and Syria are being fought amidst billion-dollar defense deals between Saudi Arabia, as also other Gulf States, and the US,” he underscores.

Indeed, according to the recent findings by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi Arabia has become the world’s second-largest arms importer and top arms importer in the Middle East. It has increased imports of foreign weapons by 275% over the last five years, as compared to 2006-2010.

Meanwhile, TAQNIA Defense and Security Technologies of Saudi Arabia (DST) concluded a partnership agreement with Turkey’s biggest defense firm Aselsan.

“The main areas of technological cooperation will focus on radars, electronic warfare suites and electro-optical technology,” DefenseNews.com reported Monday, citing military officials.

Saudi Arabia’s willingness to boost its military forces suits the strategy of Washington war hawks, which are at the same time keeping a tight rein on Riyadh and Ankara, according to Sheikh.
By Sputnik

Source Article from http://theiranproject.com/blog/2016/02/25/turkish-saudi-boots-in-syria-who-stands-to-gain-the-most-from-invasion/