High-Level Turkish Delegation Visits Damascus to Discuss SDF Integration

A senior Turkish delegation is heading to Damascus on Monday for critical discussions with Syrian officials regarding bilateral relations and the future of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. This visit underscores Ankara's commitment to affecting security arrangements in northern Syria, safeguarding what it perceives as vital national interests.

Notable attendees include Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and Ibrahim Kalin, head of Turkey's intelligence agency. They are tasked with negotiating the process of integrating the SDF into Syria's governmental structure.

These discussions are pivotal, occurring amidst sensitivity in the region. While Syrian, Kurdish, and U.S. officials are pushing for advancements on the integration agreement, Turkey accuses the SDF of stalling crucial actions, particularly with a year-end deadline looming.

The Turkish government views the SDF as a terrorist organization due to its ties with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has long been in conflict with the Turkish state and is banned in Turkey. Although the SDF has been a significant U.S. ally in combating the Islamic State, Ankara contends that allowing it to maintain its military framework poses a considerable threat to Turkish security.

Last week, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed hope that military action against the SDF could be avoided, but cautioned that the patience of Turkey is waning. Historically, Turkey has executed numerous cross-border military operations in Syria and has signaled its readiness to act again if its security is compromised.

The integration agreement carries immense importance for Ankara as it aims to dismantle the SDF's independent command structure. Turkey insists that any integration process must ensure that the group ceases functioning as a separate military force and that its members fall under the Syrian state's complete authority.

Sources involved in the dialogue reveal that Damascus has suggested restructuring the SDF's approximately 50,000 fighters into units within the Syrian army. In exchange, the SDF must relinquish parts of its organizational hierarchy and permit Syrian troops access in regions they currently oversee in northeastern Syria.

Turkey intertwines the SDF issue with its own negotiations regarding peace and disarmament concerning the PKK. Ankara maintains that all armed entities linked to the PKK must disarm and dissolve, categorizing the SDF as part of this wider concern.

For Turkey, this matter transcends territorial concerns and extends to the unity of Syria. Turkish officials argue that any move by the SDF to prolong or alter the integration agreement endangers not only Turkish security but also the territorial integrity of Syria.

As the delegation arrives in Damascus, both anticipation and tension are palpable. The results of these discussions could significantly influence future relations between Turkey and Syria, potentially determining whether diplomacy or military intervention will define northern Syria's future.