Turkey Ready to Support New Islamist-Led Syrian Government
Military Support on the Table
ISTANBUL: Turkey is ready to provide military support to Syria’s new Islamist-led government set up by rebels who overthrew Bashar al-Assad if it requests it, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday.
"He said the new leadership should be given ‘a chance’ and that Turkey was ‘ready to provide the necessary support’ if needed, in remarks reported by state news agency Anadolu and other Turkish media outlets.
New Administration’s Promises
"It is necessary to see what the new administration will do. We think it is necessary to give them a chance," Guler said of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel alliance, which is rooted in Al-Qaeda’s Syria branch and designated a "terrorist" organisation by many Western governments.
HTS has sought to moderate its rhetoric and its transitional government has insisted the rights of all Syrians would be protected along with the rule of law.
"We have military training and cooperation agreements with many countries. We are ready to provide the necessary support if the new administration requests it," the Turkish defence minister said, without specifying what might be provided.
The new administration has pledged to "respect all government institutions, the UN and other international organisations" and promised to report any evidence of chemical weapons to the OPCW watchdog.
Kurdish Question
Turkey’s top priority in Syria was to rid the country of Kurdish separatist fighters — a goal which was supported by the new government, Guler said.
"In this new period, the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation will be eliminated in Syria, sooner or later. Both we and the new administration in Syria want this," he said.
"We have no problems with our Kurdish brothers living in Iraq and Syria. Our problem is only and exclusively with terrorists."
Turkey’s Strategy
The YPG (Syrian Kurdish People’s Defence Units) makes up the bulk of the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), a key US ally that defeated the Islamic State group’s self-declared caliphate in Syria in 2019.
Ankara views the YPG as an extension of its domestic foe, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), which has led a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.
By extension, it sees the SDF as a terror outfit, setting it sharply at odds with Washington, which has called the group "crucial" for preventing a resurgence of IS group jihadists in Syria.
"Our priority (in Syria) is the liquidation of the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation," Guler said.
"We have expressed this to our American friends. We expect them to re-evaluate their positions."
Conclusion
The Turkish government’s willingness to provide military support to the new Islamist-led Syrian government highlights its desire to maintain a presence in the region and potentially gain leverage over the newly-formed administration. However, Turkey’s stance on Kurdish separatist fighters is expected to remain a contentious issue with the US and other international powers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Turkey’s stance on the new Syrian government?
Turkey is willing to provide military support to the new Islamist-led government if requested.
- What are Turkey’s main priorities in Syria?
Turkey’s top priority is to eliminate Kurdish separatist fighters, specifically the YPG.
- How does Turkey view the YPG and SDF?
Turkey views the YPG and SDF as terrorist organizations and an extension of the PKK.
- Has Turkey’s stance on Kurdish separatist fighters changed?
Turkey’s stance has remained consistent, with the defence minister reiterating that the PKK/YPG is a terrorist organization that needs to be eliminated.
- What does the Turkish government expect from its international partners?
Turkey expects its international partners to re-evaluate their positions on the YPG and SDF.