Ankara is open to various models for the Syrian Democratic Forces, including political representation in Damascus’ national assembly
Middle East Eye, January 28, 2025
Many in the region are questioning the kind of settlement Turkey seeks in Syria with the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control significant territory in the northeast of the country.
Since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, Ankara is widely seen as the biggest winner in Syria, cultivating friendly ties with the interim government led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).k
Both Ankara and HTS have demanded the removal of elements within the SDF linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – who have fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey since 1984 – and advocate for the group’s disarmament, potentially through integration into Syria’s defence ministry. While Turkey, the EU and the US classify the PKK as a terrorist organisation, Western powers have supported PKK-affiliated groups in Syria since 2014 to combat the Islamic State group.
Statements by de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa underscore that the new administration will not tolerate a divided or federal state and insists that the state alone should control arms in Syria.
Despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strong rhetoric about eliminating terror threats from Syria, Ankara appears to prefer a nuanced solution rather than a full-scale military intervention against the SDF.
Ankara-based think tank SETA, widely seen as close to the Turkish government, recently proposed a scenario where American and Turkish officials could collaborate on a non-violent resolution.
“The US, acknowledging Türkiye’s security concerns, would limit its military and political support for the [SDF], while Türkiye would avoid large-scale military operations in northeastern Syria,” the report said, using the local name for Turkey.
“This would ensure regional security while [the SDF’s] severance of ties with the PKK positions it as a non-military actor in Syria’s political reconstruction.”
Disarmament and integration
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has reiterated that Ankara expects the SDF to expel PKK cadres from its ranks and lay down arms.
On Monday, Fidan claimed the PKK has nearly 2,000 foreign fighters embedded in the SDF, led by senior PKK officials Sabri Ok and Fehman Huseyin, who are said to exert influence over SDF leader Mazloum Abdi.
A key aspect of this process is the ongoing talks between Turkey and the PKK’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, which began in October.
‘Ankara essentially wants the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the SDF’s political wing, to evolve into a national political party that participates in democratic elections and gains representation in Damascus’
– Turkish source
Many Turkish sources, speaking to Middle East Eye, including one close to President Erdogan, believe Ocalan may release a video statement in February calling on the PKK to disarm. Such a call, they suggest, could pressure the SDF into accepting a compromise.
Bese Hozat, a senior PKK official, recently said that they are awaiting Ocalan’s statement to determine their next steps.
“[Ocalan] is working very hard on a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue and the democratization of Turkey,” she said. “He is also making intense efforts for the democratization of the region. For example, what kind of solution can there be in Syria?”
Turkish officials, speaking to MEE, believe, with the help of Ocalan’s possible statement, non-PKK elements within the SDF could be easily integrated into the new military administration under Damascus’ defence ministry. They also expect US President Donald Trump’s return to office could accelerate the SDF’s reconsideration of its position.
In addition to disarmament, Ankara seeks the return of Kurdish refugees to northeastern Syria and the reintegration of Kurdish rival political parties into the region.
According to sources speaking to MEE, Turkey encouraged Masoud Barzani, the former president of Iraqi Kurdistan and a PKK rival, to meet with SDF leader Abdi earlier this month. Barzani reportedly urged the SDF to allow Kurdish parties to reintegrate into northeastern Syria and to cooperate with Damascus.
“Ankara essentially wants the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the SDF’s political wing, to evolve into a national political party that participates in democratic elections and gains representation in Damascus through the national assembly,” one Turkish source with knowledge of Ankara’s thinking told MEE.
Draft deal
Al Jazeera Arabic reported last weekend that Damascus had offered the SDF a draft deal aligning with Turkish wishes.
The proposal includes recognising Kurdish cultural rights in the new constitution and establishing a decentralised administrative system granting local councils broad powers.
However, Damascus insists the SDF must integrate into national military institutions as individuals, not as an independent unit, and cannot maintain its current military deployment in areas like Raqqa, which are not Kurdish-majority. The SDF reportedly rejected the deal, citing Turkish threats and demanding a fair share of oil revenues from fields under its control.
Despite ongoing negotiations, there are indications that Turkey is also preparing for a military solution.
Yahya Bostan, a columnist for Yeni Safak with strong ties to Turkish military and intelligence sources, recently wrote that Ankara is intensifying its efforts to eliminate the PKK threat.
“Diplomatic and intelligence contacts are expected to increase at the military level in the near future,” he said. “The tail of the cow is about to be torn apart.”