U.S.–Türkiye Strategy on Syria and the SDF: Highlights from Ambassador Barrack’s Briefing
1. No Independent Kurdish State in Syria
Ambassador Barrack reiterated unequivocally that Washington does not support carving out an independent Kurdish enclave or “free Kurdistan” in Syria. The U.S. view remains squarely with a sovereign, unified Syria—no federal or sect-based fragmentation.
Quote: “SDF is YPG. YPG is a derivative of the PKK…We don’t owe them the ability to have their own independent government within a government.”
- Reinforced by AA: “no indication…separate SDF state…There’s Syria.”
2. U.S. Sympathy ≠ Support for Federalism
While the U.S. remains sympathetic to the SDF—acknowledging its support in the fight against ISIS—it resists endorsing federal systems that partition Syria by ethnicity or sect.
Barrack emphasized that the U.S. offers a fair political “onramp” for the SDF, not independence.
Syrian authorities, echoed by U.S. diplomats, have firmly rejected federalism and any separate militias divided along Druze, Alawite, Kurdish lines
3. SDF Link to PKK Recognized
Barrack acknowledged the uncomfortable reality: the SDF’s dominant faction, YPG, is rooted in the PKK—and that matters deeply to Türkiye.
“YPG is a derivative of the PKK…we allied with them to fight ISIS.”
- Türkiye sees this as a direct security threat; the U.S. is cautious of inflaming it.
4. PKK Disarmament Moves & Potential Breakthrough
A major development: around 30 PKK militants discarded their weapons in northern Iraq—and Erdoğan publicly framed it as a historic gesture toward peace.
FT: Erdoğan hailed the moment as opening a “new page” toward ending a 40-year conflict
- Barrack called it “a very big development for Türkiye”
5. U.S. as Mediator—But Not Forever
The U.S. positions itself as facilitator, not permanent overseer.
Key line: “We’ll arbitrate, we’ll mediate… but we’re not going to stick around forever as the babysitter.”
- Highlights U.S. desire for lasting local ownership, with a broader strategy to prevent power vacuums or new instability.
6. On-the-Ground Reality of Integration Talks
SDF and Syria’s interim authorities remain in “significant disagreement” over integrating SDF into a unified Syrian army. Critical details—like command structure and territorial roles—remain unresolved.
AP source: “no substantial progress…discord hampers reconciliation efforts”
Erdoğan’s welcome of U.S. mediation and PKK disarmament aligns with his vision for national stability and increased leverage over Kurdish factions.
Syria’s central government, backed by Russia and Iran, continues to resist federalism, highlighting friction between governance models.
The U.S.–Türkiye–Syria triangle remains a cautious balancing act: the U.S. supports political inclusion of Kurds—thanks to the SDF’s vital anti-ISIS role—but firmly within a one-state framework. Türkiye’s security priorities and Syria’s desire for full sovereignty are being harmonized through diplomatic mediation. The next phase demands concrete steps on disarmament, integration, and political power-sharing—a process that neither the U.S. nor Türkiye wants to babysit indefinitely.
Strengthening U.S.–Türkiye Relations & The Syria Puzzle: What Ambassador Barrack Actually Said
Background
In a recent Foreign Press Center briefing, U.S. Ambassador Barrack spoke candidly about the sensitive dynamics between the U.S., Türkiye, the SDF, PKK, and Syria — offering rare insight into how Washington sees Kurdish self-rule efforts and Türkiye’s security concerns.
No Dictating — But Also No Partition
Ambassador Barrack made it crystal clear: the U.S. is not dictating outcomes in Syria, but it also doesn’t endorse federalism that would carve up Syria into separate mini-states. He acknowledged that the U.S. partnered with the SDF (which has roots in the YPG, a spinoff of the PKK) to fight ISIS — but stressed this doesn’t mean the U.S. supports a separate Kurdish state.
Key point: “We don’t owe [the SDF] the ability to have their own independent government within a government. We owe them an onramp to a new regime where there’s reasonableness in how they integrate with one Syrian Government.”
Türkiye’s PKK Dilemma Isn’t Ignored
Barrack openly recognized how complicated the PKK issue is for Türkiye. He noted that news reports suggested the PKK was starting to lay down arms in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region — a step that could contribute to a long-term solution for the decades-old conflict between Türkiye and the PKK.
“This is a huge thing in Türkiye… The PKK-Türkiye dilemma is really complicated. YPG was a spinoff of PKK that we allied with to fight ISIS.”
What About Kurdish Autonomy?
Pressed by Kurdish journalists on whether the U.S. is undermining the SDF’s hopes for autonomy, Barrack replied bluntly: the U.S. position remains rooted in respecting sovereign states. That means Syria stays whole — no separate Kurdistan, no partitioned statelets for any group.
“We honor nation-states that are acknowledged, viable, and legal – full stop.”
He did acknowledge that Congress has a “soft spot” for the SDF because they were a critical U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS. But that does not translate into U.S. backing for Kurdish independence in Syria.
“We’re Not the Babysitter Forever”
Barrack emphasized that the U.S. will help mediate — but won’t impose a solution or stick around indefinitely.
“We’ll arbitrate, we’ll mediate, we’ll help, but we’re not going to stick around forever as the babysitter… It’s your opportunity to create a new story here.”
The Bigger Picture for U.S.–Türkiye Relations
This moment highlights a balancing act for the U.S.:
* Keeping trust with Türkiye, a NATO ally that sees the PKK/YPG as a top national threat.
* Respecting the sacrifices of the SDF, but not at the cost of permanently fracturing Syria.
* Avoiding endless entanglement, while helping local actors take responsibility for their future.
As Barrack put it: “There hasn’t been a new story for a hundred years. Whatever the Ottoman Empire was, that was 500 years of operation where there were no borders, there were no boundaries… We have the Chinese and Russians interested too in seeing calmness in the area. But with the SDF, it’s difficult.”
What Happens Next?
How Ankara handles the next steps — and how the U.S. continues to walk this tightrope — will shape Türkiye’s security, Syria’s future, and the region’s fragile balance.
