Turkey and Syria's Kurds Hold Direct Talks Under US Mediation

According to a report published by Middle East Eye on June 3, Turkey and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) engaged in unprecedented direct talks last week, with the United States serving as mediator. The high-stakes negotiations, which involved mid-level officials from both sides, mark a significant diplomatic breakthrough in the complex Syrian conflict.

The discussions centered on several critical issues, including the planned US military withdrawal from Syria and the transfer of detention facilities housing Islamic State fighters and their families. Sources familiar with the meeting told Middle East Eye that the talks also addressed the potential integration of SDF forces into a unified Syrian military under Damascus's authority.

SDF leader Mazloum Abdi confirmed the existence of communication channels with Turkey in a statement to regional broadcaster Shams TV, saying, "We have direct ties, direct channels of communication with Turkey, as well as through mediators, and we hope that these ties are developed."

This diplomatic engagement represents a remarkable shift in relations, as groups lead the SDF with ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey, the US, and the EU designate as a terrorist organization. The meeting follows a landmark agreement signed in March between Abdi and Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa, in which the SDF pledged to join the central government.

US Envoy Thomas Barrack has been encouraging reconciliation, recently telling Turkish media that US military support for the SDF would "eventually disappear" without significant policy changes. The US has already begun reducing its military presence in Syria, cutting the number of bases from eight to five.

While progress has been made, significant challenges remain. Kurdish political entities have called for a federal system in Syria, which Turkish officials consider unacceptable. Sources indicate that Turkey might tolerate informal autonomy in Kurdish-majority areas but continues to oppose any formal autonomous status for the region.

Photo: Middle East Eye

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