Erdogan pleased with alignment steps by Syria and Kurdish forces

ISTANBUL - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he is pleased to see steps taken in neighbouring Syria to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state structures, after a US-backed ceasefire deal late last month between the sides.

In a readout on Wednesday of his comments to reporters on a return flight from Ethiopia, Erdogan was cited as saying Ankara is closely monitoring the Syrian integration steps and providing guidance on implementing the agreement. 

The comments come amid a complex backdrop of shifting alliances and engagements in the Syrian theatre, where multiple forces — including the Syrian government, various Kurdish groups, Turkey, Russia and Iran — have jostled for influence since the war began in 2011. 

Turkey’s own military operations have repeatedly targeted Kurdish armed groups it deems linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara considers a terrorist organization.

Turkey has long opposed any formal empowerment of Kurdish forces near its border, fearing that autonomous governance structures could embolden separatist demands within its own Kurdish population. At the same time, Ankara has periodically engaged with Damascus indirectly through third parties, including Russia, which maintains a significant military presence in Syria.

Erdogan’s diplomatic messaging appeared aimed at signaling openness to stability-oriented cooperation while insisting that Ankara’s security concerns remain paramount. 

Humanitarian advocates also emphasize that any security-oriented engagement must account for the needs of civilians who continue to endure the consequences of protracted conflict, including displacement, economic hardship and fractured local institutions.