By Nedim Şener
On October 7, 2025, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli addressed the founder of the organization, Öcalan, stating that he should issue a call for the SDG (SDF)—the Syrian branch of the PKK—similar to the one he made on February 27, 2025. Bahçeli expressed it as follows:
“The SDG/YPG, which has a sphere of influence in northeastern Syria, has not yet laid down its arms and has not complied with the February 27 İmralı call. İmralı’s call covers PKK as well as all components of separatist terrorism. At least, this is how we understand and interpret it. The founding leadership of the PKK should issue a direct call of the same nature and content to the SDG/YPG, demanding they comply with the memorandum signed with the Damascus administration on March 10.”
After the Syrian revolution on December 8, 2024, when the US shifted its support from the SDG terror organization to the Ahmed Shara administration, the PKK/SDG accelerated its separatist activities under the guise of “decentralization,” seeking federation and autonomy with the backing of Zionist Israel.
Relying on the support provided by Israel to some Druze groups and remnants of the Assad regime (Nusayris) on Syrian soil, the PKK/SDG began inciting civil war as an apparatus of the Zionists. For this reason, they did not take a single step regarding the integration memorandum signed with the Syrian administration on March 10, 2025. Instead, they maintained their armed structure while bringing political demands to the agenda. All groups affiliated with the PKK, including the DEM Party in Turkey, acted as a lobby on behalf of the SDG terror organization.
Öcalan’s Ambiguous Statement
Öcalan, the leader of the PKK, who had remained silent on these activities of the PKK’s Syrian branch or even provided implicit support through his statements, finally made a call yesterday to comply with the March 10 Memorandum. In his New Year’s message dated December 30, 2025, Öcalan said:
“The chaotic picture emerging in Syria is a clear reflection of the need for democratization. The years of monist, oppressive management that denied identities have further strengthened the demands for freedom and equality of Kurds, Arabs, Alevis, and all peoples. The fundamental demand voiced within the framework of the memorandum signed between the SDG and the Damascus administration on March 10 is a democratic political model where peoples can govern themselves together. This approach contains a basis for democratic integration that can be negotiated with the central structure. The implementation of the March 10 Memorandum will ease and accelerate the process. It is vital for Turkey to play a facilitating, constructive, and dialogue-oriented role in this process. This is critical both for regional peace and for strengthening its own internal peace.”
A Message of Division Outside the March 10 Memorandum
Do these words of Öcalan meet the expectations of Turkey, which prioritizes Syria’s territorial integrity and views the PYD/YPG/SDG as a national security threat?
In my opinion, no. Because, although it is not in the March 10 Memorandum, Öcalan serves the separatist goals of the SDG terror organization by mentioning “negotiation with the central government” and a “democratic political model where peoples govern themselves.”
Yes, Öcalan’s call to comply with the March 10 Memorandum is important, but the SDG terror organization must be completely liquidated. They must abandon “decentralist” demands that would mean a terror formation on Turkey’s border and deviate from the “one state, one army” principle on Syrian soil.
PKK/SDG Not Complying with the Memorandum
The roadmap for this is the memorandum signed on March 10, 2025, between Syrian President Ahmed Shara and Mazlum Abdi (codenamed Ferhat Abdi Şahin) of the SDG. According to the March 10 Memorandum:
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The right of all Syrians to be represented in the political process and participate in state institutions will be guaranteed based on merit, independent of religious and ethnic origins.
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The Kurdish community will be accepted as a fundamental element of the Syrian state, and their citizenship and constitutional rights will be guaranteed.
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A ceasefire will be established throughout Syrian territory.
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All civil and military institutions in northeast Syria (Rojava) will be integrated under the Syrian state administration; border crossings, airports, and oil/gas fields will be taken under state control.
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The return of all Syrian refugees to their own cities and villages will be guaranteed and protected by the Syrian state.
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The Syrian state will be supported in the fight against remnants of the Assad regime and elements threatening the security and unity of the country.
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Calls for division, hate speech, and initiatives that fuel societal fragmentation will be rejected.
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Implementation commissions will work to fully realize the agreement by the end of the year.
As seen, although nearly 10 months have passed since the signing of the memorandum—which does not include a “democratic political model where peoples govern themselves”—the terror organization has not complied with any of its articles. With Israeli support, it has tried to gain time by inciting civil war with Druze and Alevis to reach its goals.
Trump’s Message to Netanyahu
A significant shift could be created by President Trump praising President Erdoğan and declaring his support for Syrian President Shara while receiving Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who went to the US to seek support for regional attacks and occupation plans, including dividing Syria.
During both the reception and the press conference, Trump interrupted Netanyahu to praise President Erdoğan for his actions in Syria with these words:
“Don’t forget; it was actually President Erdoğan who helped eliminate a very bad leader of Syria (Assad). Erdoğan did this. He didn’t want to take the credit, but he gets the credit. Bibi agrees, I agree, I know what he did. President Erdoğan deserves credit; he ensured Syria got rid of some very bad people. They wanted to do this in Syria under different names for 1000 years, and President Erdoğan did it. President Erdoğan was a great help, remember that. He never asked for credit for it, but he truly deserves it. I respect the new President of Syria (Ahmed Shara); he is a strong person. That is what Syria needs right now. I hope Israel gets along well with him.”
Trump’s words to Netanyahu, “I hope Netanyahu gets along well with Syria because the new President of Syria is working well,” were a message to Israel, which is inciting separatism in Syria. In other words, the knot in Syria will be untied not by Öcalan’s statement, but by the stance of the United States.
