Turkey to carry out "lightning bolt" exercises along the Syrian border

When a military performs exercises along the border of a neighboring country, it’s often interpreted as a chest-beating projection of nationalist might; this is especially true when the exercise in question is called “lighting bolt.” The goal is to improve coordination between military and civilian forces during wartime which, while not the most overtly threatening action, still serves as a reminder of the country’s military potency. Relations between the two countries have been steadily deteriorating; last week, The Guardian reported that Turkey will respond to Syria’s violent crackdown on protesters with sanctions, a move that France, Germany, Portugal and Britain all opted against.