Turkey Urges YPG to Speed Up Syria Integration

Turkey Urges YPG to Speed Up Syria Integration

Turkey has called on the Kurdish YPG militia, a leading force within the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to stop delaying its agreed integration into Syria’s state structures. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that the YPG should honor the deal signed in March with Damascus instead of “playing for time.”

The agreement was intended to incorporate the SDF, which controls large areas of northeast Syria, into the Syrian state apparatus following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad last year. Turkey, a NATO member, has emerged as one of Syria’s main foreign allies since Assad’s removal. However, Ankara considers both the SDF and the YPG to be terrorist groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey.

Despite the agreement, relations remain tense. The YPG disputes Turkey’s labeling and has denied that calls from jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan apply to them. This disagreement has fueled distrust and prolonged military and political friction between the sides.

See also: Ex-South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Jailed Amid Corruption Probe

The SDF’s hold over much of northeast Syria has been a long-standing point of contention in the region. For years, its forces have clashed with Turkish-backed armed groups in northern Syria, deepening hostility between Ankara and Kurdish factions. Turkey’s push for rapid integration aims to reduce the influence of the YPG and end what it views as a security threat along its border.

The March agreement with Damascus was seen by some as a step toward stability, but progress has been slow. Turkey insists that full integration would bring the SDF under central Syrian command, aligning it with the broader national security framework and reducing the chances of separatist activity.

However, Kurdish forces have sought to protect their local autonomy and maintain some level of independence, a position that complicates the implementation of the deal. Internationally, the United States continues to support the SDF due to its role in the fight against the Islamic State, further adding to the geopolitical complexity.

With tensions simmering, Turkey’s latest call is a reminder that the integration process could determine the balance of power in post-Assad Syria and the stability of its northern regions.