Syria is a very much a threat to US interests, because it has a regime hostile to us, friendly to Russia and Iran, and it borders the Mediterranean Sea, giving competitors to the US that could be friendly to Turkey (read: Russia via Georgia) a trade and supply route to the Mediterranean. Because of this, the economics that are favorable to Turkey, in a situation where Syria &quot;falls&quot; to Russia, create interests that conflict with those of the US, particularly during war.<p>In other words, from geopolitical and war strategy standpoints, Syria is currently one of the more important countries in the world, to the US.