ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s foreign minister stated on Friday that Ankara is closely observing an agreement between the Syrian government and a U.S.-backed Kurdish-led armed group, expressing concerns about potential future threats to Turkey’s security. Hakan Fidan, in an interview with the Turkish TV100 channel, mentioned that Turkey had expressed its worries to Syrian officials during a sudden visit to Syria on Thursday.
Fidan emphasized the importance of intentions behind any agreement and cautioned about potential complications that could arise in the future. He stated, “We as Turkey are closely monitoring these developments.” The agreement to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian government was reached following intense clashes between government forces and pro-Assad gunmen.
Turkey does not view the agreement as granting autonomy to the SDF, with Fidan emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunities for all groups. The SDF, a U.S.-backed Kurdish military alliance in northeastern Syria, is seen by Turkey as a terrorist organization due to its ties with the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party.
Regarding the integration of the YPG and SDF into the Syrian army, Fidan mentioned discussions with Syria’s new leaders, including interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. He noted that Turkey’s intelligence officials were involved in these discussions and emphasized Turkey’s vigilance in monitoring progress on this matter. Al-Sharaa assured Fidan that the agreement would entail full integration of the YPG into the Syrian army.
Fidan reiterated Turkey’s stance that the YPG occupation in the area should be ended by the new Syrian administration. He stressed the importance of normal life resuming for all communities in Syria, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, Christians, and Alawites. Turkey will continue to closely observe developments in the region and assess the situation accordingly.
