Europe's Role Grows in Syria, but Boots Unlikely

WASHINGTON and ANKARA — Votes by the British and German parliaments of the United Kingdom and Germany last week expanded the Europe's an role in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, but analysts believe that the addition of European forces is more symbolic than a game-changer — and that European boots on the ground remain unlikely.

On Dec. 2, Parliament voted to authorized UK airstrikes in Syria, in a 397-223 vote. Less than a day later, Royal Air Force Tornados began striking targets on the ground. Britain was already taking part in coalition efforts in Iraq to combat the Islamic State groupISIS.

Then on Dec. 4, German legislators voted 445- to 146 for six Tornado reconnaissance aircraft and a tanker, as well as support personnel, to assist in the efforts. The Germans will also send a frigate to accompany the French carrier Charles de Gaulle as it launches strikes into Syria.

From the United StatesUS perspective, it's a welcome addition, as the Obama administration has consistently called on allies in Europe and the Gulf to do more in Syria.

Specifically, he called out Germany, saying the European power appears to be "appear "certainly capable of doing more … we want them to do more."

Emma Ashford of the WashingtonDC-based CATO Cato Institute said that Germany felt pressure to "look like they're responding in some way to these attacks" because of its role in the European Union and its ties with France. Similarly, Doug Barrie of the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies said that the UK was almost guaranteed to become involved after Paris due to its ties with both France and the US.

At least one nation has acknowledged political pressure to expand operations into Syria, with Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders saying on Dec. 3 that requests have been received from both France and the USnited States to join the coalition in bombing the Islamic State group in Syria.

As a result, Russia has issued a series of economic reprisals on Turkey, and has moved its S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in Syria, which could hypothetically attack jets in Turkish airspace for a future response. It has also begun flying Su-30 air-to-air fighters with its bombing packages.

"We will not let Russia make the game in that region," added an European Union ambassador in Ankara. "They are explicitly abusing the incident.," added an European Union ambassador in Ankara.

Ashford noted that the UK may be willing to do small special forces deployments like the US.,

"I don't think there's any potential for any of those countries to send larger scale troop deployments unless things change substantially,." he said.

The US, meanwhile, is expanding its ground presence, with Carter using his Hill appearance to announce a "specialized expeditionary targeting force" that can launch unilateral operations into Syria, including to conduct raids, gather intelligence, rescue hostages and capture high-value Islamic State groupISIS leaders.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, characterized Carter's announcement of the deployment as "a belated step forward" and "yet another reactive and incremental step ... in a policy that has allowed the ISIL threat to metastasize to Libya, Afghanistan, and elsewhere across the globe."

McCain and Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., a week earlier called for for 20,000 troops — 10,000 to Iraq and 10,000 to Syria. Graham, who, too, serves on the SASCcommittee, is also seeking his party's nomination for the presidency.