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Recent high-level discussions between Ankara and Washington indicate a major turn in Syria, with U.S. President Donald Trump instructing both Ambassador Tom Barrack and CENTCOM to support and pressure the SDF to negotiate with Damascus.
According to details shared by a Turkish columnist Hande Firat, who is known to have excellent ties with Türkiye's security bureaucracy, the U.S. move reflects a broader shift in the regional equation as Syria’s internal dynamics take on renewed significance.
For years, Türkiye has argued that international legitimacy granted to the SDF under the justification of fighting Daesh no longer aligns with the evolving situation on the ground.
The SDF’s attempts to expand its political influence in northeastern Syria had created friction with regional actors, especially after the emergence of Syria’s new government.
During recent behind-the-scenes contacts, Türkiye delivered a clear message to U.S. officials: “Without integration with Damascus, the SDG issue cannot be solved. Integration cannot happen without disarmament.”
Sources monitoring the process say Washington is now closer to this approach. Trump’s directives include not only supporting the SDF–Damascus talks but also applying pressure, with the level of pressure to be determined by the President himself.
Türkiye views the SDF's upcoming steps and statements of intent as critical in shaping its own decisions regarding the field.
U.S. officials, particularly within Congress, remain sensitive to maintaining the anti-Daesh mission due to previous investments and allocated budgets. However, the operational landscape is changing.
The Syrian government has formally joined the anti-Daesh coalition, and Türkiye has initiated multiple mechanisms to contribute to the effort.
According to the columnist, this marks a transition of the anti-Daesh framework “from an organization to a state,” with neighboring countries, including Türkiye, playing key roles.
Syria continues to hold between 3,000 and 4,000 Daesh detainees in prisons, along with their families in camps.
These detainees include foreign fighters from various countries. Iraq has already taken back many of its citizens, and similar steps are expected from other states.
The Syrian government has indicated readiness to ensure prison security for the remaining detainees.
Israeli moves in southern Syria, particularly in Druze-populated areas, were also a central point in recent U.S.–Türkiye–Syria-linked discussions.
According to the account, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that “If an autonomy emerges in the south, the north will want it, and the west will too.”
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio reportedly echoed this concern, stating that such developments could push Syria into “a new Balkanization process.” Trump’s remark, “I will talk to Bibi about this,” was noted as an important signal within these talks.
These exchanges suggest that a new table is forming among the U.S., Türkiye, and Israel on Syria, in which Türkiye is described as a necessary and central actor rather than a passive observer.
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