The White House has welcomed Abdullah Öcalan’s latest appeal for peace, describing it as a “major step” towards reducing conflict in the region. Öcalan, the imprisoned Kurdish leader and co-founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has called on his movement to abandon armed struggle, a move that could have far-reaching implications for Turkey’s security policy, US relations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and broader regional stability.
Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, acknowledged the importance of Öcalan’s statement, expressing hope that it would ease tensions between Turkey and the US. Hughes said:
"This is a significant development, and we hope it will help assuage our Turkish allies regarding US counter-ISIS partners in northeast Syria,"
His remarks referred to the US-backed SDF, the primary force that led the fight against ISIS in Syria. The alliance between Washington and the SDF has long been a source of contention with Turkey, which considers the group an extension of the PKK.
Despite these objections, Washington continues to support the SDF, recognising its strategic role in combating ISIS and maintaining stability in Syria. Öcalan’s call for peace could shift these dynamics. If his appeal leads to a ceasefire or de-escalation, it may create an opportunity for the US to mediate between Turkey and Kurdish forces in Syria. However, Ankara has yet to issue an official response, leaving uncertainty over whether Turkish Resident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government will engage with Öcalan’s appeal or dismiss it outright.
The White House’s statement came on 28 February 2025, following Öcalan’s widely anticipated announcement from İmralı Island Prison, where he has been held since 1999. His previous peace efforts, particularly during the 2013-2015 reconciliation process with Turkey, demonstrated his enduring influence despite more than two and a half decades in solitary confinement. His latest appeal raises questions about whether the Turkish government will reconsider its stance or continue its military operations against Kurdish groups in northern Syria.
In addressing the broader implications of Öcalan’s call, Hughes reiterated Washington’s position, further states:
Peace and stability in the region require commitments from all sides. We will continue working with our partners to encourage a political resolution, including fostering dialogue between Turkey and relevant actors in Syria."
The US has long attempted to balance its alliance with Turkey, a key NATO member, while maintaining strategic cooperation with the SDF-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Washington has previously brokered ceasefires between Turkey and the SDF, urging both sides to prioritise stability over conflict. If Öcalan’s message gains traction within the PKK, it could redefine the power dynamics in the region. However, should Turkey reject the appeal and escalate its military operations in northern Syria, tensions could rise even further.
The Turkish government has yet to formally react to Öcalan’s statement, but analysts suggest Ankara may either see it as an opportunity for renewed diplomatic engagement or dismiss it as a challenge to its hardline stance against the PKK and its affiliates.