U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey on Thursday for high-stakes talks with President Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on escalating tensions in northern Syria. The discussions centered on clashes between U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Turkish-backed rebels, following the recent overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
President Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to safeguarding its national security and maintaining the fight against Islamic State. The Turkish presidency emphasized Erdogan’s call for international collaboration in rebuilding Syria’s institutions while also asserting Turkey’s intention to act decisively against groups it deems terrorists.
Ankara views the People’s Protection Units (YPG)—a key faction within the SDF—as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey classifies as a terrorist organization. This stance has created friction with the U.S., which relies on the SDF in its campaign to defeat Islamic State militants.
Turkish-backed forces recently captured the northern city of Manbij from the SDF, prompting the withdrawal of SDF fighters east of the Euphrates River. Turkey’s defense ministry declared the operation aimed to “clear terrorism” from the area, underscoring Ankara’s firm stance against the YPG and PKK.
Turkey’s intelligence agency also reportedly destroyed 12 missile-laden trucks in northeast Syria, further escalating its campaign against Kurdish forces.
Blinken acknowledged Turkey’s concerns about the PKK, calling it an “enduring threat,” but stressed the importance of avoiding further conflict in Syria. His remarks highlighted a shared goal of fostering a Syrian-led political transition to a stable and inclusive government while maintaining focus on preventing an Islamic State resurgence.
The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized the coalition’s critical mission against Islamic State, suggesting that the current instability could enable the group to regroup.
Blinken’s upcoming meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday is expected to delve deeper into the complexities of U.S.-Turkey cooperation in Syria.
