Syrian Kurds: The Reason for Political 'Doubt' Between Ankara and Washington

There appears to be a clear contradiction in views between Turkish politicians and the United States regarding the Syrian Kurds, which has notably taken the form of a verbal duel. As Turkish officials consistently state that the PYD and its military branch, the YPG, are 'terrorist' groups, the United States does not classify them as such. Turkey has been particularly concerned since the Kurdish forces and the Democratic Union Party took control of the Menagh Airport near the city of Azaz. Feeling that the movement of forces affiliated with these groups towards Azaz would allow them to dominate sensitive positions near its border, Turkey has recently begun continuous artillery shelling. Following a bomb explosion in Ankara last Thursday, the Syrian Kurdish positions have also been targeted by long-range missiles amidst ongoing artillery bombardments. Previously, American officials had stated that the Syrian Kurdish fighting groups are important fighters against terrorist forces, especially against Al-Nusra Front and ISIS, and that the U.S. would continue its support for them. Joe Biden, the U.S. Vice President, expressed dissatisfaction with the continuation of artillery attacks during phone calls with the Turkish Prime Minister and called for a halt to operations. In this context, it was announced in a meeting of permanent members of the Security Council that the Turkish government must cease its artillery bombardments. The contradiction in views between the political officials of Turkey and the U.S. was so pronounced on Thursday, February 18, that some political analysts believed a new crisis was forming between the two countries. The statement by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that 'anyone who supports the Syrian Kurds will lose Turkey's friendship' sparked a verbal duel between U.S. and Turkish political officials. Following the Prime Minister's comments, Mark Toner spoke about the unchanged approach of the United States and stated that they would continue their support for the YPG and PYD. Meanwhile, John Kirby, referring to the bomb explosion in Ankara, said, 'I cannot comment on the Turkish government's claims regarding the perpetrators of the incident. What is clear at this time is that there is still insufficient evidence in this matter. Given that investigations are ongoing, we do not want to assign blame without reason.' He also added on Thursday, February 18, that 'the YPG forces are the most effective force against ISIS and have received necessary air support from the coalition. Of course, depending on the timing and situational conditions, we can support them in line with forward-looking goals.' In response to these statements, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after Friday prayers and at the funeral ceremony for the victims of the Ankara explosion on February 19, 2016, stated: 'Do not address me through John Kirby. I will speak to Obama myself. They must know that the Syrian Kurds are the arm of the PKK and receive their orders from the Qandil base.' This political exchange highlighted the serious political unease among Turkish officials regarding the U.S. view of not classifying Syrian Kurds as terrorists. Meanwhile, recent statements by Sharif Malkoch, senior advisor to the Turkish President, regarding the ongoing division of the Ottoman Empire policy that was in effect during World War I, indicate that as long as the United States does not consider the Syrian Kurds and their military arm as terrorists, Turkey will reconsider the use of the Incirlik base by the United States and may close it to American forces. However, the Turkish President considered his advisor's statements as personal opinions and stated that the use or non-use of Incirlik would depend on the Turkish government's decision. Some Turkish domestic publications view the differences between Turkey and the U.S., which are considered allies, as erroneous. A well-known Turkish analyst, Nazli Ilijak, criticized the Turkish government for a lack of political transparency in dealing with the Syrian Democratic Party, noting that Saleh Muslim, the leader of the party, has had numerous negotiations with the government during his visits to Ankara. If such a party is considered terrorist, why and for what reason is its leader being negotiated with or hosted, and why has he not been arrested during his frequent visits? Meanwhile, Mehmet Altan, another political analyst in Turkey, wrote in 'Turk Gazetesi' on Friday, February 19, 2016, regarding the government's haste in identifying the perpetrator of the Ankara bombing and the connection of unfounded estimates and statements from the government, stating: 'The current political authority in Turkey has suffered from brain death.' Statements made by Mark Toner, the U.S. State Department spokesperson on Friday, February 19, became the headline news in both domestic and foreign Turkish media. He reiterated his country's support for the Syrian Democratic Party and its military branch while rejecting Recep Tayyip Erdogan's claims that weapons supplied to the Syrian Kurds had reached the PKK, stating that there is no evidence or documentation that these weapons are being used by the PKK. He also contradicted statements made by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who had announced in a press conference with his Georgian and Azerbaijani counterparts in Tbilisi that John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, had stated in a phone call that the Syrian Kurds are not trustworthy. Thus, it is believed that the verbal duel between the two countries is rooted in events and incidents. After the announcement of responsibility for the Ankara bombing by the 'Freedom Hawks of Kurdistan,' it became clear that the hasty remarks and strong reactions, including intensified artillery bombardments against Syrian Kurdish positions by Turkey, were not based on sound judgment but rather an opportunity to suppress the Syrian Kurds. Therefore, the issue of 'political doubt' arises from the lack of trust in the behind-the-scenes and overt discussions between Ankara and Washington, and it seems that the United States and Turkey's Western allies have come to believe that Turkey's political thinking in participating in resolving the crisis in Syria is more based on the government's power base and short-term interests than being constructive and conducive to convergence. Perhaps this is why Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg Foreign Minister, stated in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel that 'if Turkey provokes Russia into war, it should know that NATO will not support that country.' In this regard, Erjan Tastkin, head of the 'Center for Strategic Security Studies,' states that 'U.S. officials do not find Ankara's explanations and justifications sufficient and credible... Turkey has encountered problems in combating terrorism and terrorists. To succeed in this area, all factors must work together and complement each other. The absence of one or more factors causes progress to stall. Among the most important factors in implementing security strategy are correctness, honesty, absence of challenges, certainty in reasoning, and political will. Unfortunately, Turkey has exploited the fight against terrorism for domestic political gain. Because of this mistake, the government is now facing numerous problems. To combat terrorism, a centralized police approach should be utilized while also employing effective and experienced forces that have dedicated years to this cause. However, in the past two years, useful forces have become passive for various reasons, and Turkey's security reflex has weakened. A re-evaluation of foreign policy has also exacerbated this crisis.