Kurdish political and social groups have accused Ankara and Damascus of collaborating to dismantle the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which governs large parts of Kurdish-held territory.
The claims were made during a panel organised by the Democratic Syria Assembly (MSD) on Sunday in Raqqa (Reqa), where various political factions gathered to discuss the implications of recent Turkey-Syria relations.
Ismail Al-Khalid, a researcher and writer for the Democratic East Journal, highlighted that both Turkey and Syria, led by authoritarian regimes, are not genuinely reconciling but rather pursuing a shared objective. “This process cannot be called rapprochement, as it serves neither political nor economic benefits. It’s simply a strategic alignment against the Autonomous Administration,” Al-Khalid stated.
Fakhri Derwêş, a Kurdish politician, added that the ultimate goal of this alliance is to undermine the Autonomous Administration, especially in light of the recently adopted Social Contract by North and East Syria. “The reconciliation talks are a direct threat to the existence of the Autonomous Administration,” Derwêş warned.
Democratic Union Party (PYD) Public Relations Office member Xazi Yasin echoed these concerns, noting that while there is no formal agreement between Ankara and Damascus, they share the same objectives. “Turkey is dealing with internal crises and cannot establish friendly relations with regional states, yet it remains committed to its goal of destroying the Autonomous Administration,” Yasin said.
Participants at the panel also discussed Turkey’s use of Syrian proxy forces to further its regional interests. “From the beginning of the Syrian crisis, Turkey has converted Syrian refugees into militias to serve its goals in Syria and the wider Middle East,” Hisên Osman, co-chair of the Raqqa Free Press Union, explained. He added that both Turkey and Syria are united in their desire to dismantle the Autonomous Administration.
The discussion concluded with a call for greater awareness and vigilance against the shared threat posed by Ankara and Damascus. Recep Al-Mushrif, a member of the MSD Public Relations Office, summarised the panel’s sentiment: “There is no reconciliation between the two states; their common goal is the eradication of the Autonomous Administration.”
