Geopolitical Shift: It’s Reality & Implications for Syriac People

The world has changed a lot since George H.W. Bush declared a new world order, the war
on terror of the 2000s and subsequent American interventions in the Middle East and
elsewhere. Although not fully there yet, we are heading towards an emerging multipolar
world order. No longer under American unipolar hegemony, rather the world is divided into
different major spheres of influence: Between Western powers (NATO and its allies), and
the emerging the key powers of the Russian Federation, People’s Republic of China, and
Islamic Republic of Iran. American policy advisors are recognizing that multipolarity is a
very real and emerging world order, with other advisors already wanting the US to adapt
accordingly to this new world political climate.

This article will not go into detail describing how this shift has occurred, but it can be
observed in practice with the current war in the Ukraine. The US-led effort to isolate and
sanction Russia have failed, and in fact strengthened Russia’s ties with Africa, Asia, Middle
East, and Latin America.

This should effectively illustrate that is the world is shifting again and a new power struggle
is occurring. And within this broader struggle, the Syriac people are going to be in the
middle of it again. The Assyrian or Syriac people live in one of the most strategic regions in
the world: Beth Nahrin, otherwise known in the West as “Mesopotamia”. The American,
British, French, Russian, Iranian, and Turkish militaries already have a presence in Beth
Nahrin.

The Assyrian/Syriac people have for decades, since their time in the diaspora in Europe,
made their voice heard in each parliament and in the European parliament of Brussels;
whether this be for the demands of autonomy, genocide recognition, or basic human rights
in their own homeland. Now this effort should not be hampered with, but the shift in the
world’s geopolitical balance means new areas for work and dialogue. As a people trying to
find their rightful place and hold control over their own destiny, the Syriac people must now
look through all positions of power.

The global geopolitical shift also means an opportunity to hold countries like Turkey
accountable, who’ve been a part of the Western-aligned world for decades. The same goes
to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq. While in rhetoric, Erdogan’s Turkey
jumps around between the West and Russia/China or at times issuing neutral statements, its
policies speak louder than words. Turkey has aligned with NATO in the Ukrainian Conflict
for example, supported enlarging NATO to crackdown on opposition abroad, as well as
having an unsanctioned military presence in Syria & Iraq - at the very heart of Beth Nahrin.

It does not help Turkey that neighboring countries like Iran - with proxies & its own power
struggle in the region - is being threatened by Turkey’s geopolitical ambitions not only in
Syria and Iraq, but in the Caucasus through Turkey’s ally Baku with the intention of
blocking the Armenian-Iranian border as well recently. Furthermore, both the
Assyrian/Syriac people and the Iranians face similar water issues regarding Turkey’s
damming of the Euphrates, Tigris, and Aras rivers. These projects have caused the ruining
of agriculture, local economies & livelihoods, and ever-increasing destructive dust storms or
drought in both Beth Nahrin and Western Iran. While we should hold concern for Iranian
role in the heart of our nation in the Nineveh Plains and Lebanon, the opportunities for
Syriac national benefit through dialogue with Tehran should not be ignored.

The KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) which rules the Kurdistan Region of Iraq also has
aligned itself with Western powers. In the midst of being praised by Western powers, it is
actively trying to demographically change and terrorize the Assyrian towns of the Nahla
valley, in addition to other Assyrian towns and settlements elsewhere. The constant land
theft by the KRG has been ignored by all powers and even financed by some. Iran too has
its concerns about KRG for its geopolitical position and relations. We need to take a very
pragmatic approach and make the right connections outside of the Western geopolitical
sphere to at the very least make the Assyrian/Syriac demand and common interests known,
while also presenting Syriac solutions as the best alternative for security interests in regional
countries. An emerging alternative world political order means emerging alternative
political solutions to various issues are now on the table, and political leaders would be
more interested to listen now more than ever. It would be best for such opportunities to not
be put to waste out of one-sidedness.

Assyrians/Syriacs have large diaspora communities in the CIS (Post-Soviet) countries, as

well as in the Assyrian homeland in Iran, where similar work like that in Europe could be
done. A sense of national duty among the Assyrians in relation to Beth Nahrin and the
struggle need to be formed among our communities abroad. A strong voice in that sphere
generally means a road map to build connections further Eastward while not bending our
demands or cause for the local governments. Dialogue with the Iranians utilizing
connections in said communities or even Iran’s Assyrian representative in its national
parliament, could help alleviate concerns relating to Beth Nahrin. Similar missions can be
undertaken by the Assyrian diaspora communities in the various CIS countries. A
mobilization of our international communities will make our voice echo across the world,
with our cause being well heard, received, and most importantly understood.

All of this, along with our rich and golden experience in European affairs and pushing our
cause’s echo in Brussels and in every European national parliament will make us undeniable
in this world. We will not only be heard in Washington and Brussels, but equally as much in
Moscow, Yerevan, Tehran, and other capitals around the world.