With Turkish officials talking up another imminent invasion of northern Syria, the Kurdish SDF are keen to negotiate a more formal alliance with the Assad government. They are hoping Russia will mediate.
Turkey’s invasions are aimed in part at curbing Kurdish autonomy, and propping up rebels they believe would be better for Turkish interests. The SDF has allied with the US in the past.
Kurdish hopes the US would put a stop to Turkish attacks haven’t amounted to anything, however. That and US hostility toward Assad seems to have convinced many that Russia might be a more useful partner.
That is not to say that the Kurds are trading in the US, however. It is an unmistakable message that they turned to Russia at the time when the US is desperately trying to isolate Russia on all things foreign policy-related.
Russia is a close ally to Assad, and has been engaged in diplomacy trying to limit Turkey’s incursions, so it is not so far-fetched that the Kurds would see them as a valuable mediator, and more dependable than the US.
One SDF Commander was very frank about the situation, saying they need stronger assurances from the US that they’ll prevent Turkey’s invasion.
Though the US has long relied on the SDF as allies in Syria, they’ve shown no willingness to confront Turkey. That may have the SDF looking for a better partner.
Not AGAIN? Kurds really think Russians are retarded. Last time when Turkey had enough of their shenanigans and Trump actually pulled out of the entire area except oill fields and Al-Tanf — Kurds convinced Russias to intercede and cut deal with Damascus whereby Kurd YPG disarms and Syrian givernment take over all territory from which US withdrew. But Kurds remained icharge of Raqqa, Kobane, and have no idea if they actually withdrew from Manbij. And recently, Kurds hooked up with British supportrd HTS -/ and by surprise stormed Afrin,
I do not know who is in charge. Pressure on Al-Bab and Jarabilus continued. Basically, Turekey fought fot those placrs, but in peace it was frittered mirror.,
For how many years now, the Kurds had their chance to sit with Damascus and incorporate Kurdish territory back into Syria. This is what all the parties (Russia, Iran, Turkey and Syria) want. Turkey will never allow an independent Kurdish state on its border. The Kurds have always played this game in accordance with America’s rules. Now the Kurds want Assad’s help? Sorry, not gonna happen.
The overall situation seems very convoluted. The US needs to better define itself and its’ ambitions…
Why should we. Arms sales are looking great.
That would be a first. I do not recall ever a situation where US intervention actually defined its objective, accomplished and withdrew. Most of the time real motive is hidden, a publicly advertised reason a PR, folliwed by shifting goals, goals accomplished being unacomplished, followed by prololinged stay in whatever capacity inclyding low level warfare, followed by building proxies, followed by re-escallation, surges, training, equiping — rinse and repeat in whatever version. We are already scheming to get to Afganistan through back doors offering bribes (their frozen money). Money and power at home as primary motivation is maintained by global controls. Once glibal controls start slipping, so will domestic controls of “behind the curtain” wiz,
Why would Russia and Syria negotiate with and help the Kurds? In fact, the US and Israel are capable to fight the Turks to protect the “democratic” Kurds. Let them. What’s that? Suddenly nobody likes back-stabbers?
The Kurdish way of negotiating is this, ‘protect us from Turkey but we will still keep all of the oil’
Kurds are learning how to say forked tongue, finally. Google translates it thus;
zimanê çengkirî or زمانی چنگدار
Well the USA has fcuked the Kurds several times, they are beginning to get it. I am opposed to invasions so the Turks shouldn’t do that. Given the larger problems in the world they will likely get away with it though.