Turkey-Syria relations weaken

Syria’s former ally, Turkey, has changed their diplomatic standing and has begun exerting pressure on the government as violence escalates. For years Turkey has been Syria’s closest neighbour and largest trade partner. But things are changing. Turkey has suspended energy cooperation with Syria and threatened to halt electricity supply. The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has sternly asked Syria’s President Bashar Assad, to step down. And Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, met officially Syria’s rebel leaders. Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkish FM, said, "Our attitude is very clear. We will take steps alongside the Arab League if Syria does not respond to the proposal." Syria’s opposition army is in South of Turkey and the Syrian government has increased its troops on the border. Ankara accuses Syria of providing training bases for the the Kurdistan workers Party. Turkish Prime Minister has warned that if the PKK attacksTurkey, they will cross the border to fight. Some analysts say Turkey’s goal is to enlarge its influence in the Middle East, as well as serving as a pioneer for NATO.