Erdoğan reiterates Turkish support for Syria’s territorial integrity

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed on Monday to uphold Syria’s territorial integrity as he promised to continue his country’s fight against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) during a speech following his cabinet’s first 2025 meeting. 

“With the epic revolution that took place in our neighbour Syria, a new era has begun both in this country and in our region,” he said. 

Erdoğan reiterated Turkish support of Syria and the country’s opposition to threats of destabilisation, warning Ankara would act swiftly against perceived threats. 

“If we see a risk in this regard, we will take the necessary steps swiftly,” Erdoğan said. 

His comments come as deadly Israeli airstrikes on Syria continue to target weapons and military infrastructure. Since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in the country, though it rarely acknowledges them. It says its targets are Iran-backed groups that supported Syria’s ousted president, Bashar al-Assad.

During his speech, the Turkish leader also addressed the nation’s decades-long campaign against the PKK, saying “The circle is closing for the separatist organisation and its extension (in Syria),” referring to the People’s Defence Units (YPG) in northern Syria. 

Erdoğan pledged to achieve a “terror-free Turkey” through peaceful means if possible, but with force if necessary, potentially referring to a proposal made by his ultranationalist alliance partner for the possible release of the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in exchange for the disbandment of the armed group.

During Syria’s uprising-turned-conflict, the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carved out an enclave of semi-autonomous rule across northeastern Syria, never allying entirely with al-Assad in Damascus nor the rebels trying to overthrow him.

Ankara sees the SDF as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the PKK, which it classifies as a terrorist organisation. Turkey regularly launches strikes against Kurdish fighters in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, accusing them of being PKK-linked. 

Even with the al-Assad family out of the picture, Ankara’s stance appears unchanged. This was evident in Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s landmark visit to Syria, as he reaffirmed a strong position on the Kurdish-led group during his meeting with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa.