Türkiye rejects Syrian federation, urges regional security cooperation

Middle East - مشرق وسطٰی , / Wednesday, February 5th, 2025

Sources Anadolu Ajansı
ANKARA – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed on Wednesday that Syria’s post-Assad administration has no plans for federalization or autonomous regions. Speaking at Anadolu’s Editors’ Desk, he underscored Türkiye’s expectations for regional security and counterterrorism cooperation.
Fidan highlighted the importance of recent talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, focusing on Syria’s reconstruction, border security, and combatting terrorist groups PKK/YPG and ISIS.
“Our top priority is that our neighbors, including Syria, do not pose any threats to us. Ahmad al-Sharaa’s position on the PKK/YPG is extremely clear and aligns with Türkiye’s security needs,” Fidan stated. He added that Syria aims to remove foreign PKK militants to preserve national unity.
Fidan criticized the PKK/YPG’s exploitation of the Syrian crisis to establish a de facto presence and emphasized the need to dismantle their so-called prison system for ISIS detainees, which he said serves as a tool for external influence.
Addressing the U.S. presence in Syria, Fidan noted ongoing discussions with Washington, particularly following recent changes in the U.S. administration. “We expect the U.S. to end its support for the YPG and respect Syria’s territorial integrity,” he said.
Fidan also announced plans for a joint anti-terrorism mechanism between Türkiye, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. Under a 3+3 format, these nations will coordinate counterterrorism strategies across foreign affairs, defense, and intelligence.
On Iraq’s role, Fidan stressed that it must take decisive steps to curb PKK activities in areas under its constitutional control, reinforcing regional stability.