Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed a landmark agreement between the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syria’s new government, stating that its full implementation would enhance security and stability in the war-torn country.
The agreement, announced by the Syrian presidency on Monday, integrates SDF-controlled civilian and military institutions in northeast Syria into state structures. It also places key infrastructure—including border crossings, an airport, and oil and gas fields—under the control of the Damascus administration.
Turkey’s Position and Erdogan’s Remarks
Speaking on Tuesday, Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity.
“The full implementation of the agreement reached yesterday in Syria will contribute to the country’s security and stability. The beneficiaries of this will be all our Syrian brothers and sisters,” Erdogan said in televised remarks. “We attach great importance to the territorial integrity of our neighbor Syria, the preservation of its unitary structure, and the strengthening of its unity and stability.”
A senior Turkish official noted that Ankara remains “cautiously optimistic” about the deal but is closely monitoring its execution. “The SDF has made promises before, too, so we are looking at implementation rather than at the expression of intent here,” the official told Reuters.
A Crucial Moment for Damascus
The agreement comes at a pivotal moment for the Syrian government, which is grappling with recent sectarian violence, including mass killings of Alawite minority members in western Syria. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa warned on Monday that the violence threatens efforts to unify the country after 14 years of conflict.
Turkey, a key ally of Sharaa’s Islamist government, has supported Syrian rebels for years. The former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted last year after five decades in power.
The deal was formally announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio following high-level talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between Ukrainian and U.S. officials. The agreement is expected to have significant implications for regional security and geopolitical alignments.
Regional Security and the Role of the YPG
Turkey continues to control large areas in northern Syria following military operations against the YPG militia, which leads the SDF. Ankara has long insisted that the YPG disarm and disband and that all non-Syrian fighters within the militia leave the country.
Over the weekend, security talks were held in Amman, Jordan, involving officials from Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Jordan. The discussions focused on establishing an operations center, intelligence-sharing, and managing prison camps housing Islamic State fighters detained by the SDF. According to the Turkish official, these talks played a significant role in pushing the SDF-Damascus agreement forward.
Additionally, the deal follows a recent announcement by the outlawed Kurdish PKK militant group, which declared a cessation of hostilities against the Turkish state. The PKK’s decision came after an appeal from its jailed leader, calling for the group to disarm.
