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Why NATO Won’t Go To War Over Syria Shooting Down Turkish Jet

MENASource
Dec 8, 2025

States shouldn’t waste the chance to establish a Syria Victims Fund

By
Kate Springs, Celeste Kmiotek

A centralized fund would better support victims of international law violations in Syria, who face unique challenges.

Democratic Transitions
International Norms

Why NATO Won’t Go To War Over Syria Shooting Down Turkish Jet

MENASource
Dec 7, 2025

One year after Assad’s fall, here’s what’s needed to advance justice for Syrians

By
Elise Baker and Ahmad Helmi

The second year of a post-Assad Syria requires structural reform, victim-centered leadership, and international reinforcement.

Democratic Transitions
International Norms

Why NATO Won’t Go To War Over Syria Shooting Down Turkish Jet

MENASource
Dec 7, 2025

Syria’s civil society must take center stage in reconstruction

By
Tara Kangarlou and Merissa Khurma

One year since Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Syria stands to have the most potential to showcase how local ownership can accelerate reconstruction.

Civil Society
Middle East

Explore our Syria work

Syria Project

Our work on Syria sheds light on the ongoing struggle of Syrians to fulfill their desire for democratic self-governance as the United States and the international community grapple with the aftermath of a devastating civil war, millions of refugees across the Middle East and Europe, and ongoing security and political challenges spilling over Syria’s borders.


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Syria Strategy Project

The Atlantic Council, Middle East Institute, and European Institute of Peace collaborate with subject matter experts and policymakers in the US, Europe, and the Middle East to develop a holistic strategy to sustainably forge a pathway to resolving Syria’s crisis.

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Ibrahim Al-Assil


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Arwa Damon


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
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Diana Rayes 


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
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Amany Qaddour 


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
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Nadia Farra


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Gregory Waters


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Democratic Transitions
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Marie Forestier 


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
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Samir Altaqi


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Middle East

Past events

Public Event
Thu, March 26, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

The US-Syria Energy Symposium

Energy & Environment
Energy Markets & Governance
Middle East
Syria

Public Event
Mon, February 23, 2026 • 3:00 pm ET

POSTPONED—The future of Iraq-Syria relations

Iraq
Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy
Syria

Online Event
Thu, December 19, 2024 • 7:30 am ET

Putin loses in Syria. Is Russia in retreat?

Conflict
Europe & Eurasia
Middle East
Russia

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Middle East Programs

Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2012

Why NATO Won’t Go To War Over Syria Shooting Down Turkish Jet

By James Joyner

This week, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) will meet at Turkey’s request to discuss what NATO should do in response to Syria shooting down a Turkish F-4 last week. The short answer will almost certainly be: not much.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2012

Plane Incident Increases Turkey-Syria Tensions

By Ross Wilson

The loss of a Turkish jet fighter off the coast of Syria signals a further escalation of tensions between Damascus and Ankara, raising the stakes for Turkish leaders who have heretofore limited themselves to diplomatic efforts and mostly quiet support for Syrian refugees and opposition leaders.  It is unclear what brought down a Turkish F-4 […]

Syria Turkey

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2012

Syria: Ethnonationalism and the New World Disorder

By Robert Manning

As the horrific tragedy in Syria continues to unfold amidst calls for intervention and growing fears of a region unraveling, it is useful to recall that a troubling proportion of conflict and disorder in the world is driven by the powerful force of ethno-nationalism.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2012

Syrian Intervention Is Justifiable, and Just

By Anne-Marie Slaughter

Henry Kissinger recently argued against intervention in Syria [The perils of intervention in Syria,” Sunday Opinion, June 3] on the grounds that it would imperil the foundation of world order. His analysis was based on a straw man, one put forward by the Russian and Chinese governments, that outside intervention would seek to “bring about […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2012

Brent Scowcroft Warns Against Syria Intervention

By Barbara Slavin

Brent Scowcroft, a veteran Republican voice on US foreign policy, said the United States “isn’t smart enough” to solve the Syria crisis and “would pay a heavy price for [military] intervention,” in an interview with Al-Monitor Washington correspondent and Atlantic Council senior fellow Barbara Slavin.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2012

Pressure Mounts on Russia To Switch Horses in Syria

By Barbara Slavin

The US, Europe and Arab nations are mounting a concerted effort to convince Russia that it can maintain its alliance with Syria without Bashar al-Assad at the helm.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2012

The Quandaries of Anti-Interventionist Advocacy

By Dan Trombly

For those seeking to limit the role of military interventions in American foreign policy, making arguments convincing for a policymaking audience has been a persistent difficulty. Despite the existence of a significant popular aversion to intervention, mobilizing members of the policymaking elite behind anti-interventionist policy choices has always been difficult, and anti-interventionist stances, at least […]

Syria United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jun 4, 2012

Syrian Intervention Risks Upsetting Global Order

By Henry Kissinger

The Arab Spring is generally discussed in terms of the prospects for democracy. Equally significant is the increasing appeal — most recently in Syria — of outside intervention to bring about regime change, overturning prevalent notions of international order.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2012

On American Military Intervention in Syria

By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

The massacre in Houla and other regime atrocities that have been unearthed do not change American strategic interests with respect to Syria. Horrible as they are, they don’t tell us anything new about the nature of this odious regime. If it was a bad idea to intervene prior to the latest revelations, then it remains […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

May 29, 2012

US Devises ‘Influence Games’ for Working with Syria, Levant

By Barbara Slavin

When is a war game not a war game? When it is a “competitive influence” game. For three days earlier this month (May 15-17), more than 100 people met in Annapolis, Md. to brainstorm about devising such an exercise. The actual game is to be played this summer at an air base in Florida. If […]

Syria
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Experts

Fellow

Ibrahim Al-Assil

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Samir Altaqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Middle East

Fellow

Wa’el Alzayat

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Staff

Elise Baker

Senior Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Extremism

Fellow

Nicholas Blanford

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict
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Events

Public Event Thu, March 5, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

Navigating a new era in Syria: Strategic opportunities for the US and Turkey
Conflict Defense Policy Iraq Middle East
Public Event Thu, March 26, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

The US-Syria Energy Symposium
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance Middle East Syria