Erdogan Calls on Foreign Countries to Stop Supporting Syrian Kurds

The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed hope on Friday, December 21, that foreign countries would cease their support for Kurdish fighters in Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. Erdogan compared Syrian Kurdish militant groups to ISIS, stating, "Neither of these groups should have a place in the future of Syria, and no power should continue to cooperate with these terrorist organizations." He also added in a threatening tone, "Leaders of terrorist groups like ISIS, PKK, and YPG will be destroyed in the shortest time possible." The YPG forces are considered by Turkey to be an offshoot of the PKK, which has fought against the Turkish government for years and is recognized as a terrorist organization by Ankara, Washington, and the European Union. Observers interpret Erdogan's statements as an "attempt by Ankara to isolate Kurds who have long fought alongside American forces." At the same time, the German Foreign Minister emphasized that Kurdish forces must be disarmed and integrated into Syria's national security structure. Annalena Baerbock, after meeting her Turkish counterpart in Ankara, stated that the security of the Kurds is essential for a free Syria, but Turkey's security concerns must also be addressed to ensure regional stability. Barbara Leaf, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs, also announced after visiting Damascus that Washington and Ankara are cooperating with Assad's successor groups to ensure a "managed transition." The United States has stated that it has 2,000 military personnel in Syria who played a key role in defeating ISIS from 2014 to 2017 alongside the coalition led by anti-Assad groups and continue to guard ISIS prisoners in camps.