FM Fidan Slams SDF Over Foreign Fighters, Pushes Gaza Peace Ahead of Trump Era
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan dropped bombshells at the 23rd Doha Forum in Qatar, fielding tough questions from The Guardian's Patrick Wintour on Syria's messy transition. He insisted Damascus and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/SDG) cut a real deal, but only if non-Syrian militants—Iranians, Iraqis, Turks tied to PKK/YPG—get booted immediately. "A beautiful start," Fidan called it, stressing no dual armies in one nation, though local governance tweaks could fly. Syria's chaos hits Turkey hard with refugees and borders, he noted, slamming past Western dithering that left Ankara and Doha holding the bag.
In a Reuters sit-down, Fidan doubled down: SDF shows zero intent for true merger into state structures post their March pact with new Syrian rulers, dodging instead of dissolving parallel commands. "One country, one army," he hammered, while clarifying Turkey's support for Damascus isn't a blank check to crush minorities—Israel's destabilizing moves are the real roadblock. On PKK chief Öcalan, Fidan hinted past MİT talks could resurface as leverage in Syria, but PKK ditched deals before.
Gazze took center stage too. Fidan pushed a sequenced peace: Deploy International Stability Force first to halt Israeli violations, build Palestinian security from technocrats—not Hamas—then hand over admin. "Disarmament can't lead; realism demands order," he said, blasting Netanyahu's revenge via tortured detainees as systematic horror. Turkey stands ready with troops alongside Indonesia, Azerbaijan if consensus hits, but Israel blocks it. Trump must lean on Bibi for pullback, Fidan urged, noting sole U.S. leverage after chain reactions from global protests.
Optimism flickered on U.S. ties. Fidan bets Trump's return cracks the F-35 deadlock—CAATSA sanctions from S-400 buy lifted soon as NATO allies sync up. Ukraine talks? Turkey hosts if needed; U.S. plan's evolving right. Praise for host Qatar flowed: From regional broker to global player, with Erdoğan-Tamim bonds fueling defense, econ booms. Syria aid rolls on despite Israeli threats.
Fidan's Doha blitz spotlights Turkey's pivot: Firm on security redlines, proactive on Mideast fires. SDG purge? Gaza sequencing? F-35 thaw? Watch Ankara steer through Trump 2.0 turbulence.