Hold Your Fire!
What Does the PKK Ceasefire Mean for Türkiye, Iraq and Syria?
Mar 8, 2025
In this discussion, Berkay Mandıracı, a Turkey expert, Lahib Higel, an Iraq analyst, and Dareen Khalifa, a senior dialogue advisor, dive into the implications of the PKK's ceasefire declaration. They dissect the motivations behind Turkey's initiative and its effects on the PKK's leadership in Iraq. The conversation also encompasses how this ceasefire impacts relations with Iraq and the dynamics in northeastern Syria, including the challenges faced by the Syrian Democratic Forces amid Turkish military pressures and evolving regional alliances.
48:14
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Quick takeaways
- Abdullah Ocalan's call for disarmament signifies a potential shift in Turkey's long-standing conflict with the PKK, inviting hopes for peace.
- The political responses to Ocalan's statement reveal skepticism about Erdogan's motives, highlighting the complex dynamics of regional stability in Iraq and Syria.
Deep dives
Ocalan's Call for Peace and Its Implications
The imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, recently urged the group to disarm and disband, marking a significant moment in the long-standing conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state. Ocalan's statement was read by a Kurdish politician, indicating its importance to Kurdish political aspirations and signaling a possible pathway to peace. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported this call, emphasizing the need to end the suffering caused by terrorism and indicating a shift in the Turkish government's approach to the PKK. This moment could potentially reshape the dynamics not only within Turkey but also in Iraq and Syria, where PKK affiliates are present.
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