Muyesser Yildiz: The Apocists, Barzanists, and Syria's Future

WISE NEWS PRESS / ANKARA, TURKEY

Journalist Muyesser Yildiz, in her latest analytical piece, scrutinizes Turkey’s evolving Syria policy and the conflicting roles of regional Kurdish actors. Yildiz explores the tension following Mesut Barzani’s controversial visit to Cizre and questions the strategic gap between Ankara’s "Terror-Free Turkey" ideal and the agendas of regional powers including Erbil, Damascus, and the imprisoned PKK leader in Imrali.

The analysis highlights that Mesut Barzani holds a distinct view from Ankara regarding the future of the Syrian branch of the PKK, favoring decentralized governance over full integration into the Damascus central administration.

Barzani’s regional influence and the SDG

Yildiz points to Mesut Barzani’s recent calls to the Damascus administration following clashes in Aleppo, where he positioned himself as the protector of "Kurdish rights." According to Yildiz, this stance has frustrated even pro-government writers in Turkey, as the Erbil-based Barzani family seeks a dominant role that surpasses the Imrali-Kandil-SDG axis. The article also notes Barzani’s direct communication with Syria’s new leadership (Golani-Shara) and US Special Representative Tom Barrack as evidence of his expanding diplomatic footprint.

Ankara’s shifting strategy on Imrali and Damascus

Analyzing the shifts in the Turkish government’s Syria strategy, Yildiz references Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s statements since the March 10 Agreement. She observes a transition from demanding the total withdrawal of armed elements to acknowledging the transformation of YPG into the SDG. Minister Fidan’s recent call for the SDG to "follow the instructions of Ocalan" indicates a critical pivot in using the imprisoned leader as a diplomatic lever for Syrian integration.

Strategic risks and future scenarios

In her conclusion, Yildiz warns that the PKK leadership continues to use "Rojava" (Northern Syria) as its primary bargaining chip against Ankara. She suggests that current diplomatic trends could lead to once-unthinkable scenarios, such as the hosting of SDG Commander Mazlum Kobani in Ankara or Imrali, or direct negotiations between Syrian leader Shara and the imprisoned PKK founder. The piece leaves a looming question: can Ankara successfully manage the long-term regional designs of the US and the Barzani family while focusing its rhetoric on Israel’s "divide and rule" tactics?

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