It’s all about business in war torn Syria.
Referred to by many as 'oil wells of the world’, countries of the Middle East serve as graveyards for hundreds and thousands of the innocent people killed, while many are forced to flee due to the humanitarian crimes committed in the area time and again.  The region has been an epicenter of four major crises for years: The Civil War in Yemen, Insurgency in Iraq, Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy war and the War in Syria, including the ongoing ‘Kurd’ crises between Kurdistan (Syria) and Turkey.

Is it at all possible to say all the crises have something in common?
Indeed, it is the flourishing businesses of the United States and Russia in the Middle East. Over the past few years imports of weapons, tanks, warships and other defense machinery have doubled in the region whereas, about 75% of the total arms exports have been directed to the Middle East. Such global powers have made billions of dollars from these crises. A flinch by one is a win for the other in this market.
Donald Trump, having initially given a green signal to Turkey, is now imposing strict sanctions, including higher tariffs on steel, and suspending talks over a 100 billion trade deal stating that Turkey went too far.
Russia has gained strength in the region since the Syrian crisis and has been commanding great influence in defense trade, the weapon market and in the oil cartel, OPEC.

Are conditions in 2019 any better?
On 10th October, Turkish forces entered Syria to gain control over its north eastern region. The Turks and the Kurds have had a hostile past since the Kurds have demanded a separate homeland, while Turkey has wanted to create a ‘safe zone’ for itself. As a result, it has extended 20 miles (32 km) further into north eastern Syria to ensure the return of millions of Syrian refugees and clear the area of Kurdish militia, which Ankara views as terrorists.
So far, Turkish forces have struck at around six targets in the area occupied by the Kurds, referred to as Kurdistan. Turkey has called for the US to withdraw its forces from the two areas it has entered and claims to have killed more than 300 Kurds while losing little of its army. Although the UN has reported that at least 1,60,000 people have fled their homes, actual numbers have been predicted to be nearly 2,50,000.

Is there any nation willing to offer uncompromising help?
The arena is open to new ‘market players’- recent ones being France and China.
China has vetoed in favor of Syria on atleast six occasions in the UN and has made an investment of about 2 billion dollars in the war struck nation. China speaks of its intentions to extend its business, particularly its Belt and Road Initiative, to the Middle East and use it as a window to Europe in order to extract an even larger demand base for the following debt trap.

What can India take away from this?
As the largest democracy and the fastest growing developing economy, India can choose to make its stance firmer on the issue in the Middle East and work with regards to mutual growth. But whether India should drive business out of these ‘self-established’ crises remains a question.