“There’s no question that the Turks are significant players here in whatever the outcome in Syria is going to be,” says John Kirby.
Following the overthrow of the Assad government, the White House has stated that there is “no question” that Turkey is a “significant” actor in Syria.
John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, told reporters on Monday that “there is no question that the Turks are significant players here in whatever the outcome in Syria is going to be, as they have been over the course of the last 14 years.”
For this reason, we keep talking to them about their activities and issues at all stake levels. They have good reason to be concerned about a terrorist threat along that Syrian border, as I have already stated. There, Turkish citizens have become victims of terrorist attacks. He went on to say, “You can’t really blame the Turks for being worried about that threat.”
Kirby added that Washington would keep discussing their objectives and issues with Ankara.
“As there’s a need to deconflict and to work through some of those overlapping concerns, well, we’ll do that because Türkiye is, as you rightly said, a NATO ally,” he stated.
“They have been quite interested in what is happening in Syria, and rightfully so. We acknowledge that. We also acknowledge that their objectives may not always align with ours, and we will continue to discuss this with them,” he continued.
The key will be held by Türkiye.
The remarks were made soon after Donald Trump, the president-elect, declared that Turkey will “hold the key” to Syria’s future.
Both his personal friendship with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey as “a major force” were praised by him.
Trump told reporters, “I got along very well with Erdogan,” and that Ankara had “built a very strong, powerful army.”
The recent developments in Syria, where the US has long worked with the PKK-led SDF for its so-called war against Daesh, have given Türkiye a stronger hand, according to a number of foreign policy specialists and commentators.
According to Kirby, the United States will continue to back the SDF, which is commanded by the YPG/PKK and is its principal Syrian ally in the alleged war against Daesh.
The United States, the European Union, and Turkey all consider the PKK to be a terrorist group.
