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Erdogan Discusses Integration of SDF with Syrian Administration During his Talk with Putin
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It appears that Ankara now prefers a strategy of containing Kurdish forces within Syria's official institutions rather than military confrontation which has not fully achieved its objectives
Coinciding with recent developments and the understanding reached between the new Syrian administration and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The Turkish presidency reported on Friday that during the phone call, Erdogan told Putin that Syria's resources should be handed over to the Syrian leadership, reflecting a shift in Turkey's approach which for years had refused any recognition of the organized Kurdish presence in northeastern Syria.
He emphasized the necessity of integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the central government, showing Turkey's pragmatic acceptance of the importance of finding a formula for coexistence with Kurdish forces after failed attempts to end their presence militarily.
The presidency also mentioned that Erdogan highlighted to Putin the importance of joint cooperation for sustainable stability in Syria, stopping practices that fuel sectarian violence, and lifting sanctions. This indicates a new Turkish approach that leans toward consensual solutions rather than military approaches that have not achieved the desired results.
The Turkish President also expressed his gratitude for coordination with Russia regarding Syria, confirming Turkey's continued reliance on the Russian role in arranging the Syrian landscape despite previous disagreements over handling the Kurdish file.
Regarding Ukraine, the Turkish presidency reported that President Erdogan informed Putin during the phone call that taking measures to ensure navigation safety in the Black Sea would contribute to peace efforts with Ukraine, adding that Ankara is ready to contribute to these efforts.
The statement clarified that Erdogan told Putin that Turkey is closely monitoring peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia and renewed his offer to host negotiations.
It's worth noting that a group of Syrian Kurdish parties, under American and French sponsorship and supervised by Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, had formulated a historic understanding defining a unified vision for their future. This indicates the growing strength of the Kurdish bloc that Turkey is now forced to deal with realistically.
This development came after Syria's interim transitional president Ahmed al-Shara signed an agreement on March 10 with the SDF commander in Damascus for the latter to join the new Syrian army.
This agreement, which coincided with a politically sensitive phase in the country a few months after the fall of former regime president Bashar al-Assad, stipulated the integration of civil and military institutions under SDF control in the northeastern part of the country into the state, and placing border crossings, airport, and oil and gas fields there under the supervision of the new administration in Damascus.
While Turkey welcomed the announcement, al-Shara issued the "Constitutional Declaration" three days after this signing, which omitted any reference to the Kurds. This sparked dissatisfaction from the Syrian Democratic Council, the political umbrella of the SDF, reflecting the continuing complexities in the Syrian landscape despite Turkey's new approach toward the Kurdish issue.
