Turkey has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its national security, stating it will take decisive measures if the new Syrian administration fails to address Ankara’s concerns regarding US-backed Kurdish factions. Speaking on Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the need for action against groups that Turkey considers terrorist organizations.
Ankara views the YPG, a key component of the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKK has waged a 40-year insurgency against Turkey and is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
Tensions have escalated since the fall of Bashar al-Assad less than two weeks ago. On December 9, Turkey and its allied Syrian factions captured the city of Manbij from the SDF, further pressuring Kurdish groups that have seen significant political and territorial setbacks in the wake of al-Assad’s removal.
In an interview with France 24, Fidan reiterated Turkey’s preference for the new Syrian leadership to resolve the issue in a manner that respects Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
He also called for the immediate disbanding of the YPG, signaling Ankara’s insistence on a resolution to what it perceives as a critical security threat.
“If it doesn’t happen, we have to protect our own national security,” he said. When asked if that included military action, Fidan said: “whatever it takes.”
When asked about remarks from SDF commander Mazloum Abdi regarding the potential for a negotiated resolution with Turkey, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan dismissed the notion. Instead, he suggested that the SDF should direct its efforts toward engaging with the new Syrian administration.
“The new reality, hopefully, they will address these issues, but at the same time, [the] YPG/PKK, they know what we want. We don’t want to see any form of military threat to ourselves. Not the present one, but also the potential one,” he added.
Turkey, with the support of its Syrian allies, has launched multiple cross-border offensives against the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria. Ankara continues to pressure its NATO ally, the United States, to cease backing the Kurdish fighters, whom Turkey considers an extension of the PKK, a designated terrorist organization.
The SDF, with U.S. air support, played a crucial role in the fight against ISIS from 2014 to 2017 and is still responsible for guarding captured ISIS fighters in prison camps. However, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently warned of attempts by ISIS to regain its strength, justifying continued U.S. involvement in the region.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized the recent increase in U.S. troop deployments to Syria, calling it “the wrong decision.” He argued that the fight against ISIS was being used as an “excuse” to sustain American support for the SDF, further fueling tensions between Ankara and Washington over their diverging policies in Syria.
“The fight against ISIS, there is only one job: To keep ISIS prisoners in prisons, that’s it,” he said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan shed light on Ankara’s past collaboration with “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS) in Syria, revealing that the group had “excellent cooperation” with Turkey in combating ISIS and al-Qaeda through intelligence sharing. HTS recently played a pivotal role in the push to topple Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
Fidan also addressed the presence of foreign military bases in Syria, stating Turkey’s opposition to any such installations, including Russian bases. However, he emphasized that the ultimate decision on this matter should rest with the Syrian people, aligning with Turkey’s stance on respecting Syria’s territorial sovereignty.
Fidan’s remarks underline Turkey’s complex role in Syria’s ongoing conflicts and its efforts to shape the region’s future through both security partnerships and advocacy for local governance.
