Newsletters
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) should no longer delay the political and security process in Syria by using Daesh or other pretexts, stressing that the issue directly concerns Türkiye’s security.
Speaking during a live broadcast on TVNET, Fidan said: “The SDF should no longer prolong the process using Daesh or other excuses. I underline again: this is not only an issue related to Syria’s security; this is also about Türkiye.”
Fidan said the SDF should abandon its current position and reach an agreement with the administration in Damascus, fulfilling its obligations under the March 10 agreement.
He said resolving the issue was important not only for Syria’s stability but also for countries such as Türkiye, Iraq, and Jordan, which have national security threat perceptions linked to developments in Syria.
Fidan said Türkiye encourages the process between the Syrian administration and the SDF to be resolved through dialogue, peace, and a secure environment, adding that Türkiye will continue to provide guidance.
Fidan described the SDF as an extension of the PKK in Syria and said there is an ongoing process between the PKK and Türkiye, including a decision by the group to dissolve itself.
He said Türkiye expects to see the effects of this decision not only within its borders but also beyond them.
According to Fidan, Türkiye’s main security problems in recent years have not originated from within the country but from developments beyond its borders.
Fidan said uncontrolled armed groups outside state authority pose a security threat to Türkiye, regardless of whether they are affiliated with Daesh, PKK, DHKP-C or other armed groups active in Syria.
He said ideological differences are not the core issue, but rather the use of armed methods to pursue political objectives.
Asked whether the SDF draws encouragement from Israel, Fidan responded, “It absolutely does,” adding that this was not a new development.
He said the SDF had never acted together with the opposition against Bashar al-Assad and claimed that Israel did not want Assad to leave power.
Fidan added that in previous years, U.S. politicians influenced by Israel adopted similar positions and withdrew their support from opposition groups.
Fidan said Daesh has significantly weakened and no longer constitutes a systemic threat, adding that regional actors could collectively address the issue.
While stating that Daesh remains a threat that must be fought, Fidan said using the group as a justification to pursue other political or regional agendas is problematic.
He said reactions to Daesh are disproportionate to the threat it currently poses and argued that the group has been used by multiple actors, including Iran, Western countries, and the former Assad regime, to create political space.
Fidan was asked whether an armed attack carried out by a Daesh militant in Syria that killed two U.S. soldiers and one U.S. citizen should be considered a provocation. He replied, “Of course.”
1 min read
1 min read
