Politics
Türkiye won’t allow separatists in Syria: Defense Ministry sources
Uncertainty still reigns about the future of the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK. But Türkiye remains firm in its stand on the group. Defense Ministry sources on Thursday reiterated their call for the YPG’s full integration into the Syrian army in the post-Assad era and vowed that Ankara would not allow separatist attempts in its southern neighbor.
The YPG carved out a so-called autonomous administration for itself in Syria’s northeast, opposite the Turkish border, as the country was mired in civil war. Over time, it found widespread support from the United States under the pretext of a joint fight against Daesh, another terrorist group which once controlled several towns in Syria’s north. Türkiye, which suffered from cross-border attacks by the YPG, supported the Syrian opposition through military offensives in Syria’s north in the past decade and liberated parts of northern Syria from the YPG’s grip.
After the fall of the Assad regime that effectively ended the civil war, the YPG remained the only major armed group not joining anti-regime forces led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Damascus shunned an open conflict with the YPG and sought a deal for their integration into the new Syrian army. In March, al-Sharaa and YPG ringleader Ferhat Abdi Şahin signed a deal for the integration of YPG members into the army. They are expect to cement the deal soon, after another upcoming meeting in Damascus.
Türkiye is a major supporter of the al-Sharaa-led administration and also backs the March deal. Yet, a recent gathering in Syria where YPG members voiced “a decentralized system” in the country, raised Turkish concerns, while Damascus strongly opposed the concept, which amounts to the disintegration of the country.
This month, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani warned that “the unity of Syrian territory is non-negotiable,” adding that any delays in implementing the agreement with the YPG would “prolong the chaos” in the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Syrian presidency said that al-Sharaa met with U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Saturday. Both sides agreed on “the necessity of implementing a comprehensive agreement with (the YPG), ensuring the return of Syrian government sovereignty over all Syrian territories, while discussing mechanisms to integrate these forces within state institutions,” the presidency said.
Defense Ministry sources said Türkiye was closely monitoring the deal in the context of maintaining regional stability and security. “We support every positive step for peace and security in Syria, but it should be conducted in a transparent, inclusive manner that takes legitimate security concerns of all sides into consideration. Our stance on the necessity of keeping the Syrian army as the only armed structure in Syria and on the integration of (the YPG) terrorist group into the army did not change. There may be delays in the process, but it won’t change anything. Türkiye, in cooperation with the Syrian government, will never allow decentralization in Syria or a separatist agenda,” sources said.
Sources also announced that a joint coordination unit founded by Türkiye, Syria and Jordan started work in Syria on May 19, as a follow-up to the decision to set up a joint operations center by five countries for the fight against Daesh in Syria.
Türkiye, EU defense
Defense Ministry sources also commented on the Council of Europe’s adoption of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a joint defense procurement program that also includes non-EU member Türkiye. Sources noted that the program still had many restrictions for non-EU states.
“Unfortunately, we witnessed actions to prevent the inclusion of our country and other non-EU states into the EU’s defense and security architecture in this process and some actions that amounted to the use of Türkiye’s exclusion as a bargaining chip,” the sources said, in reference to Greece’s opposition to broader access of Türkiye to defense supplying mechanisms.
“Europe’s security can only be strengthened through diversity, strategic foresight and collective solidarity, but this needs a visionary approach. Türkiye will be a major contributor to Europe’s defense thanks to its defense capabilities. This is a fact voiced by many allies of Türkiye during negotiations on SAFE,” the sources said.
Athens was seeking to curb Türkiye’s involvement in Europe’s defense industry, and Greek media reported earlier this month that their Foreign Ministry instructed ambassadors in European countries to raise the issue.
Although Türkiye and Greece pursue rapprochement in their formerly hostile relations, Athens also works to bolster its defenses by new acquisitions, while Türkiye’s flourishing defense industry raises its profile, especially with sales of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to other countries and boosting its military arsenal with locally made products. Ankara and Athens are particularly at odds on their maritime borders in the Aegean Sea, which has been the venue for dogfights between Turkish and Greek fighter jets in the past.
At a news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin earlier this month, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted that Europe should “choose partners carefully” while strengthening the defense industry, and they “must be aligned with European foreign policy.”
Europe aims to reinforce its defenses as the United States reconsiders its generous support to the continent’s defense since World War II. Türkiye is eager to contribute to Europe’s security architecture, although the bloc stalled its accession for years. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has emphasized earlier that Türkiye will continue to play a crucial role in European security.
“As NATO’s second-largest military, Türkiye will continue to play a crucial role in the European security architecture through its military capabilities and defense industry infrastructure,” Fidan told a press conference following a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Antalya, southern Türkiye.
Türkiye is considering deploying F-16 fighter jets to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a defense ministry source said Saturday.
The person said such a move was one of the steps being considered amid the phased planning underway to ensure the security of Turkish Cypriots in the north of the island, as tensions rise in the Middle East with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
Regional tensions surged after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliation by Tehran on U.S. military targets across the region.
TRNC has been incensed by Greek Cypriot’s growing military cooperation with its Western partners after the United Kingdom has allowed the U.S. to use its military base in the south of the divided island.
British facilities on the island, particularly the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri, have played an important logistical role in Western military operations in the Middle East in recent years. Iranian forces have warned that installations linked to Western operations could become targets if regional hostilities escalate.
The TRNC leadership has held a series of security meetings in response to the crisis, he added, focusing on crisis management, coordination with Türkiye and the preparedness of civil defense mechanisms.
Cyprus has remained divided for more than five decades between the Turkish Cypriot north and the Greek Cypriot south despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the U.N. to achieve a comprehensive settlement. The TRNC was established in 1983 and is recognized only by Türkiye, while the Greek Cypriot administration represents the island internationally and joined the European Union in 2004.
In the midst of a conflict gripping the region, Türkiye walks a thin line of neutrality. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that Ankara would continue to maintain diplomatic contacts to help bring an end to the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.
Speaking after an informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Fidan said: ” (Iranian President) Mr. Pezeshkian’s statement, ‘We will not attack unless attacked. We apologize for attacking,’ is a statement that we have emphasized,” adding that various reservations have been made in Iran regarding this statement, but this is an internal matter within the Iranian system.
Emphasizing that Israel’s expansionist and divisive agenda is widely known, Fidan said: “Israel has adopted a strategy of causing instability, conflicts, and civil wars throughout the region. Together with our friendly and brotherly countries, we have adopted a peace-oriented policy against this approach.”
He also said Türkiye has maintained peace, security and stability despite the turmoil around it, attributing this to the sound foreign policy pursued under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Fidan will be joined by Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler on Tuesday at Parliament. The two ministers will inform lawmakers about the war, developments in the Middle East and measures Türkiye took against the spillover of the conflict. It is unclear whether the briefing by Güler and Fidan will be closed to the press, but briefings regarding national security are often closed to the press at the Turkish Parliament.
“I want to emphasize once again that we strongly condemn attacks targeting third countries,” Fidan said in his remarks on Saturday, noting that attacks targeting Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain endanger the lives of innocent civilians and increase the risk of the war spreading.
He said using attacks on neighboring countries as a pressure tactic, unless directly attacked, is neither a sound war strategy nor beneficial for regional stability.
Fidan said Türkiye anticipated how Iran might respond to crises even before strikes by the U.S. and Israel. He added that Ankara had long advised Tehran to avoid targeting neighboring countries and to pursue dialogue with Washington about its nuclear dispute while preserving regional stability.
The foreign minister also said that it is not the right strategy to attack civilian and energy infrastructure of countries that do not allow their airspace to be used by others or the use of foreign military bases on their territory.
“This would only serve to further Israel’s expansionist agenda in the region. We have stated that this is not the right strategy,” the foreign minister added.
Fidan said a large majority of global public opinion supports ending the war, noting that some countries have taken open positions like Spain, while others raise the issue privately.
He said Türkiye is working to turn this international consensus into concrete diplomatic action, similar to the global stance seen during the State of Palestine recognition process at the U.N.
“The targeting of our country and Azerbaijan this week has once again shown how great the risk we face is,” he said, adding that they have repeatedly reminded everyone that similar incidents should not be repeated.
Fidan also referred to a missile that was shot down entering Türkiye’s airspace, saying the country does not easily fall for provocations and has no difficulty defending its security, but also knows the risks of being dragged into a wider conflict.
“If this were a missile that lost its course, that is one thing. But such incidents should happen only once. If there are going to be more, our advice is: Please be careful, no one in Iran should embark on such an adventure,” he said, adding that despite years of sanctions and pressure on Iran, Türkiye has consistently maintained a principled, transparent stance and worked to promote peace and stability in the region.
He added that despite years of sanctions and pressure on Iran, Türkiye has repeatedly demonstrated its friendship, maintained a principled position and remained one of the few countries acting transparently and in line with clear principles.
Israel’s intentions
Responding to a question about claims that the U.S. may be organizing Kurdish groups to help overthrow the Iranian government, Fidan said Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization and defense authorities are closely monitoring those activities.
He said he discussed the issue in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him that Washington was not pursuing the effort.
Fidan, however, said Israel’s intentions in this regard were “no secret.”
“Israel has for many years adopted a strategy of using Kurdish groups in the region as proxy forces,” he said, adding that during current developments in Iran, Israeli circles have continued to signal their intention to use Kurdish groups in a similar manner.
He said it remains unclear how much the U.S. would support, distance itself from or remain neutral toward the strategy.
Fidan warned that any scenario aimed at triggering a civil war in Iran along ethnic or sectarian fault lines would be the most dangerous outcome.
“This would not only cause more suffering and loss of life among innocent civilians in Iran, but could also lead to millions of people being displaced and forced to flee to neighboring countries and beyond as refugees,” he said.
Fidan expressed hope that Kurdish opinion leaders in the region would avoid taking on such a historic responsibility.
He added that Türkiye is also maintaining contact with various regional actors, including Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani and other authorities.
“After Iraq and Syria, a prolonged period of uncertainty, war and instability in Iran would benefit no one,” he said, noting that Türkiye shares a border of more than 560 kilometers (348 miles) with Iran.
“Any internal crisis in such a large country would inevitably spread across the region with a multiplier effect. That is why we are seeking ways to prevent such a scenario and keep the situation under control,” Fidan added.
Turkic cooperation
Fidan said OTS members maintain cooperation based on mutual trust and have achieved concrete progress in areas such as the economy, culture and connectivity, while working closely to develop a common stance on global developments.
He warned that the international system is becoming increasingly unpredictable and that international law is being disregarded more frequently, stressing that greater solidarity among Turkic states is therefore becoming more important.
Fidan said OTS member states had adopted a statement regarding regional developments, noting that any attack targeting one member state would be a source of great concern for all members of the organization.
He thanked member countries for their strong support and solidarity in the face of attacks targeting Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
The foreign minister said the war in the region must end as soon as possible, stressing that diplomacy is the only viable solution.
“We have spent months trying to establish a negotiation table. Even today, we continue to say that diplomacy is the only option to resolve the problems,” he said.
Fidan warned that conflicts may benefit terror groups and threaten global energy security, and that Türkiye is closely monitoring the safety of its citizens and is maintaining full diplomatic and consular support in the region.
He also welcomed steps by Azerbaijan and Armenia toward lasting peace, saying they show that stability is beginning to take hold in the South Caucasus, and expressed hope that the momentum will soon lead to a permanent peace agreement.
He added that peace and stability in Afghanistan are crucial for the region, noting that several Turkic states border the country and that rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are being closely monitored.
Fidan said ending the long-standing isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a shared historical responsibility.
He also emphasized strengthening energy security, connectivity and regional cooperation, including increasing infrastructure investments to enhance the East-West Middle Corridor across the Caspian region.
He said OTS members will continue working in close coordination to strengthen cooperation and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.
Türkiye on Friday denied reports published by a foreign news agency claiming that the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) had asked Britain’s MI6 to increase protection for Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Directorate’s Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM) said the report does not reflect the truth and described the claims as unfounded.
The statement stressed that MIT maintains active cooperation with both the international intelligence community and Syria’s security institutions in the fight against terrorism.
Officials noted that recent successful operations carried out jointly with Syrian authorities against the Daesh terrorist group are among the latest examples of this cooperation.
However, the DMM statement said it is not true that MIT requested Britain’s intelligence agency MI6 to take on any role in protecting Syria’s president, as alleged in the report.
The DMM also urged the public not to give credence to baseless claims and misleading content circulating in the media.
Türkiye is assisting its citizens through diplomatic missions in Middle Eastern countries affected by the conflict that began after the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Öncü Keçeli said Friday.
Keçeli said necessary measures are being taken to protect Turkish citizens in countries targeted by attacks in the region.
He emphasized that Türkiye’s diplomatic missions abroad operate emergency hotlines around the clock, adding that citizens should closely follow announcements from Turkish diplomatic representations in countries where they are located.
Keçeli noted that Turkish citizens can leave Iraq, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman, and Jordan via various transportation routes, with diplomatic missions in those countries advising on safe travel arrangements.
“There is currently no direct air connection from Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait to Türkiye, while flights from the United Arab Emirates to Türkiye are rare and only conducted under exceptional circumstances,” he added.
Efforts are underway to organize bus services to facilitate the overland transfer of Turkish citizens from the four countries to Saudi Arabia and Oman, from where they will be able to fly to Türkiye. However, the introduction of bus services is subject to local authorities’ approval, he added.
Keçeli stressed that conditions in the region are changing rapidly and urged Turkish citizens to follow the announcements of diplomatic missions in the countries where they are staying.
The statement came amid an ongoing Israeli-U.S. offensive on Iran that has reportedly killed more than 1,000 people since Saturday, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Gulf countries, which are home to U.S. assets.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls Friday with Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi and Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, according to diplomatic sources.
Sources from the Foreign Ministry said the talks took place earlier in the day and focused on bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.
Türkiye, Iran’s neighbor that had sought to mediate U.S.-Iran talks before the air war that began at the weekend, warned “all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation,” suggesting it was not poised to call upon the trans-Atlantic defense bloc for support.
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday that a ballistic munition launched from Iran and directed toward Turkish airspace was detected after crossing Iraqi and Syrian airspace.
The projectile was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense units deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Türkiye summoned Iran’s ambassador to Ankara to convey a formal protest and expressed deep concern over the incident. Officials stressed any steps that could expand ongoing conflicts or further destabilize the region must be avoided.
Iran’s armed forces on Thursday denied claims that a missile had been launched toward Türkiye, saying they respect the country’s sovereignty and had not fired any missiles at Turkish territory.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stepped up his peace diplomacy efforts by holding a series of phone calls with world leaders in a bid to help end the conflict in the region and ensure stability following the recent attacks on Iran.
According to Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, Erdoğan engaged in diplomatic outreach with several leaders from Europe, the Middle East and beyond as part of Ankara’s efforts to prevent further escalation and promote dialogue during a period of heightened tensions.
As part of these efforts, Erdoğan spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, discussing the regional developments and the importance of diplomatic solutions.
The Turkish president also held talks with European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Erdoğan’s diplomatic contacts extended to leaders across the Muslim world and the Gulf region. He spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
In the Gulf, the Turkish president held discussions with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Kuwait’s emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah.
Erdoğan also spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
The calls reflect Türkiye’s broader diplomatic push to encourage dialogue and reduce tensions at a time when regional developments risk further instability. Ankara has repeatedly stressed the importance of diplomacy and cooperation among international actors to prevent the conflict from spreading and to support lasting peace in the region.
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