ANKARA – Turkey is working to ensure that recent developments in Syria do not lead to further instability in the region, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a meeting with Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Ankara on Tuesday.
The meeting, marked by a photograph of the two leaders shaking hands, highlighted Turkey’s stance on regional security following last month’s rebellion that ousted former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s position that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliates have no place in Syria’s future.
Erdogan also emphasized the importance of preserving Iraq’s stability and security in light of the ongoing changes in Syria, according to a statement from his office.
Turkey has consistently called for the disbandment of the YPG militia in northeast Syria, which it views as a PKK extension. The YPG, which leads the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), was instrumental in defeating Islamic State militants but remains a point of contention due to its ties with the PKK.
The meeting underscores Turkey’s efforts to address regional security concerns while navigating the geopolitical shifts in Syria and the broader Middle East.