Turkey’s Fidan: Ankara Will Give SDF-Damascus Deal a Chance Despite Reservations

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara will give the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus time to implement their March 10 agreement, even though Turkey has concerns over its terms.

Fidan Voices Conditional Support

Speaking at a conference in Rome, Fidan acknowledged that Ankara is “not 100 percent satisfied” with the deal signed between SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The agreement, mediated by the United States, calls for the integration of the SDF and civilian institutions in northeast Syria into the Syrian state framework.

“If both sides stick to it, we think this would be good,” Fidan said, while accusing the SDF of “dragging their feet” on implementation.

Agreement Facing Delays

Although parts of the deal have been enacted, disagreements persist over how the SDF will be incorporated into the Syrian national army. Sharaa admitted progress is slow but insisted the agreement should be implemented by the end of the year.

The interim Syrian leader ruled out any decentralization, rejecting Kurdish demands for autonomy. He warned the SDF against seeking independence, citing the example of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, which faced military pushback and international isolation following its 2017 referendum.

Peace Process and Regional Implications

The deal’s future is closely linked to Turkey’s ongoing peace process with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Acting on a call from imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK has agreed to dissolve and disarm, while the Turkish parliament has formed a commission to manage the process.

Ankara claims the peace framework also covers the SDF’s backbone, the People’s Protection Units (YPG). However, Kurdish mediators deny this, and Öcalan has reportedly called Rojava a “red line.”

Fidan reiterated Turkey’s security concerns:
“Many PKK members from Turkey, Iraq and Iran are working with the YPG. They are not there for Syria; they are there to fight against us.”

A Warning from Ankara

Fidan said Turkey is allowing Damascus and the SDF time to resolve their disputes peacefully, but left the door open to alternative measures if the process fails.

“Right now, we are giving both Damascus and the YPG a chance to solve their own problems. But what we serve here is our nation’s security. If things go badly, there may be no other alternative,” he warned.

Keywords: Turkey, Hakan Fidan, SDF, Damascus, Syria, Mazloum Abdi, Ahmed al-Sharaa, PKK, YPG, Kurdish peace process, US mediation

Meta: Turkish FM Hakan Fidan says Ankara will give the SDF-Damascus deal a chance despite security concerns and PKK links, while warning that Turkey may take measures if the agreement fails.

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