PYD uses US, Russian support to promote its agenda

ANKARA

Amid the ongoing conflict in Syria, both Russia and the U.S. are in competition to attract the Democratic Union Party, also known as PYD.

PYD, which is the extension of the PKK terrorist group, in Syria, is using that competition to gain as much support as possible from both powers.

PYD considered the Syrian civil conflict a “war among the Arabs” and adopted a different approach than other Syrian factions that oppose Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

PYD focused on strengthening its political, military and economic positions.

PYD took that approach to protect itself from other local powers that may emerge amid the ongoing civil war.

Moreover, it built its relations with domestic and international powers according to its own benefits, including how far these powers could support PYD establish itself in the Kurdish region across Syria. The Syrian regime was one of these powers that supported PYD in this framework.

Alongside the rise of international reactions against the Daesh terrorist group, PYD used combating terrorism as a tool for legitimacy and to receive more military support and funds.

In this sense, a special relation between PYD and the U.S. was established. It was manifested last year in Kobani when the U.S.-led international coalition supported the Syrian Kurdish forces.

The second step of the PYD-U.S. partnership took place in May when PYD took control of Tal Abyad city and managed to merge its “cantons” in Hasakah and Kobani. This raised the possibility of establishing a Kurdish region in the northern part of Syria under U.S. control.

Within this context, U.S. President Barack Obama asserted on Oct. 3, that his country intends to deepen its relations with the Kurdish groups. The step comes after the U.S. failed in its program to train and prepare moderate forces to fight Daesh.

On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised PYD and the Syrian regime for their role in combating Daesh during his UN speech that took place two days before the Russian intervention in Russia on Sept. 30.

After 11 days of Russian airstrikes, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's deputy foreign minister and Putin’s representative for the Middle East and Africa, met Salih Muslim, co-chairman of the PYD, in Paris. They discussed opening a PYD representative office in Moscow as well as other strategic topics.

PYD aims to strengthen its relations with Russia as well as keeping cooperation and strategic coordination with the U.S. to use that as a card with both sides.

There is no doubt that Russia, in exchange for its support to the PYD, will demand the Kurdish forces to launch attacks against Syrian opposition forces in Aleppo and Afrin, giving an advance for Assad’s forces. However, a PYD alliance with Assad against the opposition may have a negative effect on PYD-U.S. relations.