President Donald Trump’s second term has already seen bold foreign policy moves, and now he may be preparing to deliver another shock to the global establishment—this time by giving Turkey a long leash in Syria. Months after giving Israel the green light to secure its northern border and obliterate leftover terrorist infrastructure following the fall of Assad’s regime, Trump could be preparing to do the same for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. But this time, the move isn’t without friction, and it might test Israel’s patience in a region where alliances are as fragile as ever.
In December 2024, just weeks after Trump’s election victory, Israel took full advantage of the leadership vacuum in Syria. With Trump’s approval, the Israel Defense Forces moved swiftly, clearing out hostile forces and expanding the buffer zone between Israel and its broken neighbor. It was a textbook example of Trump’s America First foreign policy—support your allies, crush your enemies, and stop apologizing for protecting your people.
But fast forward four months, and now Turkey is expanding its own footprint in Syria, eyeing new air bases and a growing military presence in the north. The same Erdoğan who chants for the destruction of Israel during Ramadan prayers is now being courted as a “very smart” and “tough” leader by the President of the United States. Make no mistake: Trump sees strategic value in Turkey. He’s not endorsing Erdoğan’s anti-Israel venom, but he understands that reshaping the Middle East requires dealing with strongmen who don’t bend to globalist whining.
Still, the optics aren’t great. While Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood shoulder to shoulder during a press briefing, the President signaled that he could smooth over any disputes between Israel and Turkey, so long as “everyone stays reasonable.” But that’s a big ask when Erdoğan is openly praising Hamas and calling for Israel’s annihilation from a mosque pulpit.
There’s no doubt Turkey sees Syria as its playground. With Assad gone and Syria’s new president, Ahmed al Sharaa, unable to stabilize his country, Erdoğan is stepping in—under the guise of fighting terrorism and rebuilding Syria. Analysts say Erdoğan is trying to resurrect the Ottoman dream and distract Turks from an economy in free fall. It’s classic strongman theater. And yet, he’s succeeding in making Turkey the indispensable broker in Syria’s reconstruction.
Meanwhile, Israel isn’t standing down. Netanyahu knows full well that allowing Turkish-backed militias to flood southern Syria poses a direct threat to the Golan Heights and beyond. Israel has zero interest in seeing Syrian airspace turned into a launchpad for pro-Turkish extremists or Iranian proxies. And if it means locking down southern Syria with military force and preemptive strikes, so be it.
Israelis aren’t fantasizing about expansionism—they’re trying to prevent another October 7th. As one Israeli analyst put it, keeping southern Syria demilitarized is a matter of survival, not conquest. That’s why Israel must set red lines. Trump can talk peace and deconfliction mechanisms all day, but Israel must protect its sovereignty, even if that means blocking advanced weapons sales like the F-35 to a volatile, anti-Israel regime in Ankara.
Still, reality is complex. Despite the posturing, both countries have taken steps to avoid direct conflict. Recent military meetings in Azerbaijan helped create a deconfliction channel between Israel and Turkey. Officials insist it’s not normalization—it’s about keeping two armed giants from stepping on each other’s toes in a very small neighborhood.
In the end, both countries are pursuing their own interests, but only one—Israel—is doing so with America’s values in mind. Turkey wants influence, prestige, and leverage. Israel wants peace, security, and stability. As President Trump tries to balance these competing ambitions, he’d be wise to remember which of these nations has been a loyal ally since day one—and which one chants death to the Jews in broad daylight.
