Trump will face first challenge as tensions rise with Turkey over Syrian Kurdish forces

Levent Kenez/Stockholm

Tensions between Turkey and the United States continue to simmer over the status of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the country's new transition phase. While Ankara has reiterated its willingness to consider military action if necessary, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, during his Senate confirmation hearing for secretary of state on January 15, expressed his unwavering support for the forces. Kurds in Syria, highlighting the deep divide between the two. NATO Allies.

Ankara considers the SDF, mainly composed of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), to be a terrorist organization. Turkey says the YPG is the Syrian branch of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it has fought for decades.

Turkey says Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which toppled President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, should oppose the continuation of Kurdish autonomous structures and the SDF as a bloc because they pose a threat to the territorial integrity of Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan strongly reiterated this position last week in a television interview, saying that the new Syrian government must take ownership of this issue and take the necessary measures to guarantee the territorial integrity of the country.

Fidan further argued that the YPG should integrate into the Syrian army without any special status. He said that if this did not materialize, it would clearly indicate the YPG's intention to prolong the situation. Drawing attention to the role of HTS in Syria's new governance structure, Fidan stressed that the current administration in Damascus does not fear war since it seized power through fighting.

“Turkey's ultimatum to the Kurds is clear,” Fidan continued. “We made it known both through the Americans and the press. The YPG must also expel its non-Syrian fighters from countries like Turkey, Iran and Iraq. » He said he was frustrated that no preparations or indication of intent to comply had been seen so far.

Responding to concerns about military action, Fidan reiterated: “If you do not want a military operation, the conditions are clear. This applies both to our side and to the new Syrian government. We are waiting for a response.

However, even as HTS leaders seek to integrate into the international community, they do not want to confront the West, which supports the Kurds.

Turkey's main concern, discussed at a parliamentary committee meeting, is the dissolution of the SDF and their integration into the Syrian army without maintaining their bloc status. On January 14, Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Ylmaz addressed lawmakers to provide an update on developments in Syria. Ylmaz highlighted the important issue of the “SDF and PKK” request to join the proposed new Syrian National Army as a unified group, emphasizing that he sees no distinction between the SDF and PKK when they are mentioned together .

The SDF-PKK's request to join the national army as a unified entity poses significant risks to regional security and stability, Ylmaz said. He stressed that such a move could reflect precedents in Syria's history, where similar blocs within the armed forces have led to internal divisions and, ultimately, coups.

Turkey, Ylmaz explained, has always advocated for the formation of a national army inclusive of all segments of Syrian society, free of ethnic, sectarian or religious prejudices. He reiterated that Turkey had formally expressed its objections to the SDF-PKK's demands on the interim Syrian government, highlighting the potential for long-term destabilization if such a proposal were to be accepted.

Ylmaz noted that the integration of the SDF-PKK as a bloc could increase tensions in Syria and present a direct threat to Turkish border security.

Drawing on past experience, Ylmaz warned that the creation of fractured military units within a national army has historically resulted in prolonged political and social crises. To avoid repeating past mistakes, it is crucial to create a unified and inclusive Syrian National Army that fairly represents all communities, he said.

The second part of the meeting was held in secret session, with Ylmaz briefing lawmakers afterward.

Turkey also wants control of camps housing IS prisoners and their families, currently under SDF administration, to be transferred to the Kurds. The move is seen as part of a broader strategy to limit Kurdish autonomy in the region and strengthen Turkey's influence over security issues in northern Syria.

Ankara has expressed its preference for these facilities to come under the control of the Syrian central government led by HTS. Turkey also suggests that joint management of these prisons with Iraq could be a viable solution, given that the majority of foreign prisoners are Iraqi nationals. Turkey is prepared to take responsibility for prisons holding ISIS operatives in Syria, amid continued uncertainty over HTS's future plans.

Meanwhile, on January 15, when asked whether the United States should continue to support the SDF in the fight against ISIS, Senator Marco Rubio, appointed Secretary of State in the new US administration, replied: “Yes, absolutely”.

He stressed the importance of supporting the Kurds, saying: “It is in the national interest of the United States to have a Syria that protects the Kurds.

Rubio acknowledged the fragile nature of the ceasefire with the Kurds but stressed its necessity. He also stressed that although Syria presents significant challenges, it nevertheless offers promising opportunities, despite the complexities introduced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Rubio had previously expressed concerns about the US withdrawal from Syria under the first administration of Donald Trump, particularly regarding the abandonment of Kurdish forces. On October 7, 2019, Rubio criticized the decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria, warning of its far-reaching consequences. In a statement released after the announcement, Rubio called the decision a “serious mistake” and said it would have significant repercussions beyond Syria. He said it could intensify attacks on U.S. partners in the Middle East and potentially spark a broader regional conflict. Rubio also stressed that the move would damage U.S. credibility in the region, encouraging adversaries to view America as an unreliable partner. He urged President Trump to reconsider the withdrawal.

President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, made the remarks during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on January 8, when asked about the future of US troops in Syria . The Pentagon recently announced that approximately 2,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Syria, nearly double the previously reported figure of 900. Trump stopped short of providing a definitive answer on troop levels, emphasizing that such decisions are part of military strategy. This was interpreted by observers as a shift from Trump's previous position of completely withdrawing US troops from Syria.

Trump also called Turkish President Erdogan someone I love and respect and acknowledged that Erdogan had refrained from attacking Kurdish forces in Syria at his personal request in the past.

He's the one who didn't attack certain people after I asked him not to. You know who I'm talking about, the Kurds, Trump said.