Türkiye's Erdoğan calls for rapid implementation of SDF–Damascus deal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday (19 January) that an agreement reached between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces must be implemented swiftly, including the full integration of fighters, as Ankara pushes for lasting stability in Syria.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdoğan said the requirements of the ceasefire and integration deal between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) should be carried out without delay, warning against what he described as “wrong calculations”.

He said Türkiye would not allow any attempts to sabotage efforts to secure peace and stability in Syria, adding that the “era of terrorism” in the region was over.

Erdoğan praised the Syrian government’s handling of recent fighting in the country’s northeast, saying Syrian forces had acted carefully and within their chain of command, avoiding provocations and resolving tensions through negotiation with minimal damage.

He said Türkiye viewed these developments as important steps toward lasting peace, tranquillity and stability, and reiterated Ankara’s position that Syria’s territorial integrity and unity are essential for regional prosperity.

The Turkish leader also said Syrians, after more than 13 years of war, were openly expressing their desire for peace, and warned that no one had the right to undermine what he described as a growing climate of hope.

Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue to pursue its goal of a “terror-free Turkey and region”, referring to Ankara’s broader security policy and its stance on militant groups it considers linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

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