Since Bashar al-Assad’s fall, the success of Syria’s political transition has hinged on bringing the autonomous Kurdish northeast into the central government. That effort began to unravel this month: A high-profile conference in the northeast hosted prominent separatists, Kurdish officials accused Damascus of breaking a ceasefire, and integration talks in Paris were abruptly scrapped. Turkey has since readied forces to support a limited Syrian operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led northeastern coalition backed by the West to counter the Islamic State, escalating the chances of military confrontation. The current escalation reflects the repercussions of the West’s chosen course. Since lifting sanctions in June, the United States and European Union have embraced the transitional government in Damascus, ignoring its consolidation of power. The consequences of this policy have now come home to roost: The transitional government has established a political order in Syria that no minority group would willingly join. Moving forward, if Washington and Brussels wish for the political factions in the northeast to peacefully integrate, they must first use their influence with Damascus to demand a more inclusive political system.
The West Is Helping Syria Build a Government No Minority Wants to Join | Lawfare
