The complex history of Turkey and the Kurds, explained | The Fact Checker

Summary

This video explores the complex and longstanding conflict between Turkey, Syria, and the Kurdish population, particularly focusing on the Kurdish groups' evolving relationship with these nations. It traces the historical roots back to the end of World War I, highlighting key treaties and political decisions that divided Kurdish lands across multiple countries. The narrative examines the impact of the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and the YPG, along with the U.S.'s involvement in the region, and President Trump's controversial decision to withdraw troops. The video sheds light on the intricate history of Kurdish identity, resistance, and cooperation with regional powers.

Takeaways

• 😀 President Trump defended his decision to withdraw US forces from Northern Syria, a move that exposed Kurdish allies to attacks.
• 😀 Trump claimed that the long-standing conflict between Turkey, Syria, and the Kurds had been ongoing for centuries, though this claim is oversimplified and inaccurate.
• 😀 The historical context of the Kurdish issue goes back to the end of World War I, with the Kurds being split across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
• 😀 The Treaty of Sèvres (1920) briefly suggested a Kurdish state, but the Treaty of Lausanne (1923) led to the division of Kurdish territories and denied the creation of a Kurdish nation.
• 😀 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey, was pivotal in suppressing Kurdish aspirations for independence, resulting in the erasure of Kurdish identity in Turkey.
• 😀 In 1978, the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) emerged in Turkey as a response to oppression, and initiated a long-running conflict with the Turkish government.
• 😀 In Syria, Kurds were stripped of their rights in the 1960s but later gained more autonomy in the 2000s, with groups like the YPG rising to prominence.
• 😀 The YPG, which has strong ties to the PKK, became a key US ally in the fight against ISIS in Syria, though this relationship was contentious for Turkey.
• 😀 The United States created the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to work with the YPG while trying to mitigate the PKK connection, forming a multi-ethnic fighting force against ISIS.
• 😀 Turkey has long sought to remove PKK-affiliated groups from the Syrian-Turkish border, with the US withdrawal from Syria enabling Turkey's military operations against the YPG.
• 😀 Trump's decision to withdraw US forces effectively abandoned Kurdish forces in the region, shifting the balance of power as Turkey, with Russian backing, moved to control the area.

Q & A

Why did President Trump defend his decision to withdraw US forces from Northern Syria?

President Trump defended his decision by claiming that it was up to Turkey and Syria to handle their territorial disputes, as the Kurds had been fighting in the region for hundreds of years. He also argued that this conflict was not limited to Turkey and the Kurds, but involved multiple groups.

What historical event marked the beginning of the complicated relationship between Turkey and the Kurds?

The complicated relationship between Turkey and the Kurds can be traced back to the end of World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. The Kurds were left divided between Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, as the region was reshaped by colonial powers through agreements like the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Treaty of Lausanne.

How did Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's actions affect the possibility of a Kurdish state?

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk played a pivotal role in rejecting the idea of a Kurdish state. Following the Ottoman Empire's collapse, he consolidated power, leading to the formation of modern Turkey and the abandonment of plans to create a Kurdish state, as outlined in the Treaty of Sèvres.

What role did colonial powers play in the division of Kurdish territories?

Colonial powers, particularly France and Britain, played a significant role in dividing Kurdish territories. The borders drawn by the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Treaty of Lausanne separated the Kurdish population across Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, often ignoring ethnic and cultural ties in the region.

How did the Kurds in Syria fare compared to those in Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman Empire?

While Kurds in Turkey faced significant repression, including forced displacements, killings, and erasure of their cultural identity, Kurds in Syria initially experienced more autonomy under French rule. The French supported their cultural and linguistic rights, which allowed for a Kurdish intellectual movement to flourish.

What was the significance of the PKK's founding in 1978?

The PKK, founded in 1978 by Turkish Kurds, adopted communism to resist the Turkish government's oppression of the Kurdish people. The PKK initiated an armed conflict with Turkey in 1984, which escalated into a prolonged insurgency, leading to its designation as a terrorist organization by the US in 1997.

How did the YPG in Syria evolve and what was its connection to the PKK?

The YPG (People's Protection Units) emerged in Syria in the 2000s as a dominant Kurdish militia. It had strong ties to the PKK and shared its goal of Kurdish autonomy. The YPG became a key player in the Syrian conflict, fighting against ISIS, but its affiliation with the PKK led to tensions with Turkey.

What was the US's strategy in working with the YPG during the Syrian Civil War?

The United States worked with the YPG in Syria, despite its affiliation with the PKK, by creating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF was presented as a multi-ethnic force to minimize the appearance of US support for the PKK, which Turkey considered a terrorist organization.

How did Turkey respond to the US withdrawal from Syria?

Turkey viewed the US withdrawal from Syria as an opportunity to remove PKK-affiliated groups like the YPG from the Syrian-Turkish border. Turkey launched a military operation on October 9th, 2019, to invade northern Syria, which led to a shift in regional dynamics and an eventual ceasefire agreement.

Why is President Trump's statement about the Kurds and Turks fighting for centuries considered oversimplified?

President Trump's statement that the Kurds and Turks have been fighting for centuries is oversimplified because it ignores the complexity of their history. While there have been conflicts, there were also periods of cooperation. Kurds and Turks were allies during the Turkish War of Independence, and many Kurds identify as Turkish citizens despite ethnic differences.