Turkey, US at odds over arming Syrian Kurds

US President Donald Trump has approved to directly arm the Syrian Kurdish forces in the fight to wrest back Raqqa, the self-declared capital of IS group. But Turkey, a US ally and NATO member, has criticized US plan as unacceptable and a threat to Turkey. Ankara says Syrian Kurds are linked to PKK militants in the country and supporting them amounts to arming terrorists to take on extremists. Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli has said Turkey can never accept or allow the existence of terror groups that pose threat to his country as it is matter of existence and nonexistence. “It is a matter of survival for Turkey. Everyone should see it this way,” Canikli said.
It is the first diplomatic scuffle between the NATO allies since Trump took office in January. Ankara hopes the US will change its decision to arm the Syrian Kurds. But it seems most unlikely. Syria is the Gordian knot of US anti-IS campaign. To cut this US is ready to use any and every means available. And Syrian Kurds appear to fit the bill. Syrian Kurdish fighters have proved their mettle by recapturing districts of Jazeera, Kobani and Afrin. While US maintains that Syrian Democratic Forces, which include the Kurdish fighters, are the only potent force on the ground that can successfully seize Raqqa, Ankara says they are linked to the Kurdish PKK group that has battled for autonomy in southeast Turkey for more than three decades.
US says the Kurdish militia will be provided training and equipment “on a very limited basis” that includes small arms such as rifles and ammunition, armored vehicles, heavy machines guns, and construction equipment such as bulldozers. Defense Department spokesman Eric Pahon said US is also increasing support to Arab members of the Syrian Democratic Forces. “We plan to track these weapons and equipment and do our best to get it back afterwards. Once Raqqa is liberated, we envision Syrian Arabs governing the city,” Pahon said.
It would to be naive enough to believe that weapons provided to fight IS will be tracked and taken back. It is nothing but a wishful thinking. The YPG has never been part of Free Syrian Army fighting Assad regime, rather it has been accused of collaborating with Syrian leader, who has supported PKK. Also, it is no secret the Kurds are trying to carve out an area of self-determination.
Given these facts, Turkey’s concern over US decision to arm Kurdish forces is plausible. It will give rise to a major trust deficit between Ankara and Washington and would further entrench belief that US is not a reliable partner and Turkey should turn to Russia instead. Erdogan is already working closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a plan to establish safe zones in Syria.
The US move to arm Kurdish forces is fraught with challenges and marks a “new low point” in US-Turkish relations. The US depends on Turkey for a great deal of assistance, including allowing operations out of the Incirlik air base. Washington must address Turkey’s grievances to make Raqqa campaign a success.