US, French forces may secure Syrian Kurdistan-Turkey border

US, French forces may secure Syrian Kurdistan's border with Turkey — Ilham Ahmed, a senior Syrian Kurdish official and co-head of the Foreign Relations Department in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the North and East Syria, Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), November 2023. Photo: Screengrab/DW video/YT

PARIS,— Discussions are ongoing about the possibility of U.S. and French forces securing a border zone in Syrian Kurdistan, the Kurdish region on northern Syria, to help reduce tensions between Turkey and Kurdish forces backed by Western allies, according to a senior Kurdish official.

Turkey has threatened to launch an offensive into northeastern Syria to target the Kurdish YPG militia unless the group meets its demands. Ankara labels the YPG, which leads the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a “terrorist” organization with ties to the PKK, a Kurdish militant group that has fought the Turkish government for over 40 years.

Turkey, which does not officially recognize its Kurdish population of over 23 million, fears that the establishment of a Kurdish autonomous region or state in northern Syria could spark separatist movements among its own Kurdish citizens, analysts say.

The YPG has denied the accusations and any links to the PKK, accusing Turkey of using false justifications to expand its invasion of Kurdish areas in Syria.

The SDF played a critical role in defeating the Islamic State (IS) between 2014 and 2017 and continues to hold thousands of IS prisoners in detention camps. However, since the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, the SDF has faced increasing pressure.

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s support for the SDF, emphasizing that Paris would not abandon the Kurds, which has been a key opposition force throughout Syria’s long civil war.

Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Kurdish administration in northern Syria (Rojava), told TV5 Monde that U.S. and French forces could take on the responsibility of securing the border. “The United States and France could indeed secure the entire border. We are ready for this military coalition to assume this responsibility,” she said.

Ahmed urged France to deploy troops to help maintain security in the region and to foster better relations with Turkey. Neither France’s nor Turkey’s foreign ministries immediately responded to requests for comment, and the U.S. State Department was unavailable for a statement.

It remains uncertain how Turkey would respond to such a proposal, as Ankara has worked for years to protect its borders from perceived threats in Syria. “Once France convinces Turkey to accept their presence on the border, we can start the peace process,” Ahmed added, expressing hope that an agreement could be reached in the coming weeks.

The U.S. has been involved in brokering ceasefire talks between Turkey-backed groups and the SDF amid ongoing tensions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking at a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Paris, confirmed that discussions on the border security issue were in progress.

“We must ensure the Syrian Kurds have a role in the country’s future,” Barrot said. “They were our partners in the fight against IS, and we owe them that support.” He reiterated that France is committed to ensuring that both Turkey’s security concerns and the rights of Syria’s Kurds are addressed.

Blinken emphasized the continued importance of the SDF’s mission, particularly in holding over 10,000 detained IS fighters. “This remains a security priority for both the U.S. and Turkey,” he said. “We are working closely with our Turkish allies to manage this transition, but it will be a process.”

The U.S. currently maintains about 2,000 troops in Syria, working alongside the SDF to prevent the resurgence of IS. France also continues to have a presence in the region with special forces, stemming from their past support for the Kurdish forces.

(With files from Reuters | Agencies)