Turkey Rejects French Troop Presence in Syria, Stresses Alliance with the US

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In a decisive statement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan ruled out any involvement of French troops in Syria, emphasizing that the United States remains Turkey's sole interlocutor in the region. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on January 10, 2025, Fidan accused France of disregarding Turkey’s security concerns and urged the country to repatriate its jihadist nationals currently held in Syria.

Fidan's remarks come amid rising tensions as Turkey contemplates military action against Kurdish fighters, specifically the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which played a crucial role in defeating ISIS in 2019. While Western nations, including the US and France, are keen to prevent Turkey from intensifying its offensive against the SDF, Turkey views the Kurdish forces as a significant threat due to their connections with the PKK, a group classified as terrorist in Turkey.

“The US is our only interlocutor,” Fidan stated, dismissing any potential deployments of French or additional foreign troops to the region. He added that Turkey possesses the strength and determination to neutralize threats to its safety independently.

The SDF currently manages multiple prisons in northeastern Syria housing thousands of jihadists, including several French nationals. Fidan criticized France for not taking responsibility for its citizens, asserting that it ignored Turkey's security issues entirely. He reiterated, “What France should do is take back its own citizens, bring them to its own prisons and judge them,” advocating for direct action over reliance on the SDF to manage foreign fighters.

Fidan's comments highlight the ongoing complexities in the region as Turkey seeks to ensure stability while managing external perceptions of its military actions.

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