US Senator Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, issued a stark warning about the risks of abandoning the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and directly cautioned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against exploiting political transitions in the United States. Rubio made the remarks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, responding to questions from Senator Chris Van Hollen.
Van Hollen raised concerns about Turkey’s escalating aggression against the Kurdish-led SDF, warning that it threatens regional stability and risks enabling a resurgence of ISIS. He asked Rubio: “Do you agree that we should continue to support our partners, the SDF, in the fight against ISIS?” Rubio responded emphatically: “Yes, absolutely. Not only that, but I think we also have to recognise that there are implications to abandoning partners who, at great sacrifice and threat, actually jailed the ISIS fighters.”
Rubio praised the SDF for their critical role in dismantling ISIS and taking in captured ISIS fighters at great personal risk. “One of the reasons we were able to dismantle ISIS is because they were willing to host them in jails, at great personal threat to them,” Rubio said. He also warned of the fragility of the current ceasefire between Turkey and the SDF, stressing, “Right now there’s a very tenuous ceasefire with regards to the Kurds. It’s important for that to be maintained.”
Rubio then addressed Erdoğan directly, urging the US to send a clear message of resolve. “It’s important to signal to Erdoğan early on, including through this hearing, that he should not view a transition in power in the United States as a window that they could take advantage of to sort of violate whatever agreements were in place,” Rubio said. He emphasised the wider risks of instability in Syria, noting its impact on US strategic interests in the region.
The hearing highlighted growing bipartisan support for the SDF and concerns about Turkey’s actions. Van Hollen reminded the committee of the importance of the 2019 ceasefire, which was brokered to stabilise northern Syria and prevent an ISIS resurgence. He warned that Turkish-backed aggression was jeopardising these goals: “At this very moment, President Erdoğan of Turkey is supporting attacks by the so-called Syrian National Army, which is largely controlled by Turkey, against our partners, the Syrian Kurds.”
Van Hollen and Senator Lindsey Graham previously introduced sanctions legislation in December 2024 to pressure Turkey to renew the ceasefire. The deal, originally brokered in 2019, has been threatened by renewed Turkish-backed aggression, raising fears of further conflict in northern Syria.
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Rubio’s remarks during the hearing underscored bipartisan support for the SDF as a key partner in ensuring stability and preventing a resurgence of ISIS. His warnings to Erdoğan highlighted the importance of preventing actions that could destabilise a post-Assad Syria or undermine broader efforts for long-term security and stability in the region.
