Turkey Increases Pressure on SDF to Disarm Amid US Envoy’s Mediation

Turkey Increases Pressure on SDF to Disarm Amid US Envoy’s Mediation
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Turkey is intensifying its pressure on the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to disarm and integrate into the new Syrian government, Al Monitor reported. This development comes as US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, continues diplomatic efforts in Damascus, signaling a shift in Washington’s policy toward a unified Syrian state.

According to reporting from Al-Monitor and Kurdistan24, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has issued a strong warning, stating that any attempt by the SDF to create a separate entity in Syria would be considered a national security threat and could lead to military intervention. Turkey views the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the core of the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is in the process of disarming.

While the US has previously supported the SDF in its fight against ISIS, its position has evolved. The US special envoy, Thomas Barrack, has publicly stated that the US is not obligated to support an independent Kurdish state and supports the SDF’s integration into Syria’s central command. This new stance is a key part of ongoing efforts to stabilize the region following the fall of the former Syrian regime.

The SDF, for its part, has been engaged in a delicate negotiation process with the new Syrian government. A key sticking point is whether the SDF will be able to retain its identity as a cohesive unit within a new Syrian army or if its fighters will be absorbed as individuals. Reports indicate that while the SDF is open to a political solution, it has so far resisted the complete disarmament demanded by Turkey and, more recently, by US officials.