WASHINGTON—The global anxiety sparked by a series of deadly attacks in Paris by the Islamic State (ISIS) has given new urgency to President Barack Obama’s upcoming talks with world leaders.
The crisis in Syria, where ISIS has taken root, was already high on the agenda at the meeting of 20 leading industrialized and emerging-market nations. But the violence in Paris that killed at least 127 people will dramatically change the dynamic of the talks in Antalya, Turkey, a seaside resort city just a few hundred miles from the Syrian border.
In remarks from the White House shortly after the attacks Obama said, “We’re going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice, and to go after any terrorist networks that go after our people.”
French President Francois Hollande said ISIS militants were behind the attacks and the extremist group claimed responsibility Saturday. The U.S. has not yet said whether it believes the group is responsible for the carnage.
Erdogan has been frustrated by Obama’s willingness to use military force against ISIS, but not against Assad. The U.S., meanwhile, was irked by Erdogan’s reluctance to join the campaign against ISIS, though Turkey eventually decided to start bombing the militants this summer and also allowed the U.S. to launch its own airstrikes from key bases in the county.
Obama’s dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Syria have been even more complicated. As Assad’s biggest benefactor, Russia has essentially propped up the Syrian leader throughout the crisis. Until Putin is willing to abandon Assad and accept new leadership in Syria, it’s unlikely a political solution can be reached.
Despite Obama’s vow to isolate Putin in retaliation for Russian aggression in Ukraine, the president agreed to meet with his longtime foe in New York earlier this year to discuss Syria. The slight optimism U. S. officials expressed after the meeting was quickly dashed when Russia began launching its own airstrikes in Syria, raising the prospect of a proxy war with the U.S.
While Putin says his country’s forces are targeting ISIS, U.S. officials have accused Russia of instead going after forces fighting Assad in a bid to protect the Syrian leader.
Obama and Putin won’t hold another formal meeting in Turkey, but White House officials said the leaders would have plenty of time to talk on the sidelines of the G20.
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