Factors Driving Syrian Kurds Closer to Moscow

AhlulBayt News Agency - The Syrian Kurds’ battle against the ISIS’ terrorists in Kobani has paved the way for them to start regional and international cooperation. Meanwhile, sending weapons for the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Women's Protection Units (YPJ) in December, 2014, the US has started political relations with Syria’s Kurds. Following ISIS’ defeat in Kobani, Washington and the Kurdish forces have expanded their range of collaboration which had an indispensable role in boosting the military power of the Kurdish protection units.

On the other hand, Russia stepped in the Syrian crisis in late 2015. Soon after, it established diplomatic connections with the Kurds in the country. In response, the Kurdish Democratic Union Party has sent positive signals to Moscow through establishing representation office in Moscow, making the analysts amazed by such a move. In the beginning the dominant notion was that the Russian links to the Syrian Kurds were temporary and actually the American officials would not allow the two sides enhance their ties further. However, in recent months a couple of developments have taken place, making the Kurds get even closer to Moscow and get away from Washington. There are a couple of reasons behind that which include:

1. Russia’s support for federalization of Syria

In the recent days, the Russian officials have shown relative support for the idea of establishing a federal system of governing in Syria. According to Moscow’s intended federal system, the country’s northern regions, starting from the borders of the Jazira Canton and ending in the borders of the Afrin Canton, would go legally under the rule of a federal government of the Kurds.

 Reacting to the Russian proposal, the US officials have refused the idea of federalization in Syria, arguing that they would support united Syria with a democratic government. Without doubt, the federalization plan in the Syrian political future could be very considerable and appropriate for the Kurds because a great part of their demands would be realized through implementation of the federal system.

Washington’s refusal of the ideal of establishing a federal system in Syria’s political future and Moscow’s upholding of the plan could prepare the ground even further for the Kurds to get closer to Moscow as they are encouraged to move away from Washington.

2. Moscow’s support for the Democratic Union Party’s participation in Geneva peace conference on Syria

Russian officials’ have insisted that the Kurds must take part in the Geneva peace talks which negotiate Syria’s future showdown. Such a support from Russia for the Kurds is one of the most significant magnets attracting the Syrian Kurds to Moscow. In the Geneva III conference, held on January 29, 2016, the Syrian opposition groups participating in the talks, under the Turkish pressures, have prevented the Kurds for attending the meeting. The Kurds have considered the US responsible for their exclusion from Geneva III talks as Washington withheld its backing for their presence in the conference.

Although later the US has sent its envoy to the anti-ISIS coalition Brett McGurk to Kobani for negotiation with the Kurds, the fact is that the Syrian Kurds have the conviction that at the present time Russia is certainly the only global power that upholds they demands and positions. Thereby, the Russian supports could hold the greatest share of attraction for the Kurds in Syria’s prospective equations.

3. The US regional considerations towards Turkey

In mid-2015, Ankara has made a shift in approach to ISIS, announcing that it would launch a war, though seemingly, against the terror organization. Such a step stood as a factor for closer Turkish ties with the US. Some years after eruption of the Syrian crisis, Turkey has demanded establishment of a safe zone across Syria’s northern regions, apparently in an area stretching from Azaz to Jarablus.

The Turkish officials have been strongly against the Kurdish forces’ advances in regions between the two cantons of Kobani and Afrin, disparaging any support delivered to the Democratic Union Party by the Europeans and the Americans, calling it a support to the terrorism.

Undoubtedly, through looking at the US considerations towards its allies in West Asia region, it can be said that Washington would consider the Turkish security concerns while watching the demands and progresses of the Syrian Democratic Forces led by the Kurds. The US would block the full actualization of the Kurds’ demands. Meanwhile, Russia, as an international superpower, which currently has wide-ranging tensions with the Turkish government and is prepared to show full support for the Kurdish positions in the face of Ankara, could turn out as the most significant ally for the Kurds.



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