US mulls losing Turkey by openly transferring arms to terrorist PYD

According to an article published in The New York Times yesterday, the U.S. is planning to directly arm the PKK terrorist group's Syrian wing, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which could bring Turkish-U.S. relations to the verge of a breakdown.

Even though the U.S. has long denied that it supplied arms directly to the PKK by claiming that the arms were received by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) or other umbrella groups, it would stop using excuses if the plan comes into existence.

"The Obama administration is weighing a military plan to directly arm Syrian Kurdish fighters combating the Islamic State [DAESH]," the article said, referring to the PYD, as Syrian Kurds. It contended that the plan "has been under discussion by the National Security Council staff."

"The U.S. changes the name of support for the PKK. They said at first that they were supplying arms to the SDF, which was actually to the PKK. Now that Turkey does not believe in SDF life, it says it will supply arms to the Syrian Kurds," Erem Şentürk, editor-in-chief of the Turkish daily Diriliş Postası told Daily Sabah.

Ankara has long criticized the U.S. for providing arms to the PYD, which it sees as a terrorist group. Turkish authorities also called on Washington to stop supporting terrorism as it joins forces with "terrorists."

In addition, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave an ultimatum to the U.S., saying: "Are you on Turkey's side or the side of the PYD [and its armed] YPG terrorist group?"

Turkish-U.S. relations had gone south following a statement from U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby that the U.S. does not consider the Syrian PKK affiliate, the PYD, or its armed, the People's Protection Units (YPG), to be terrorist groups. Kirby's statement was in response to Erdoğan's ultimatum to Washington to choose Turkey or the PYD as its ally.

The direct supply of arms to PYD terrorists could result in the clash of U.S.-armed terrorists and Turkish soldiers in Syria. As the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) continues to support the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in northern Syria as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, the march will continue toward al-Bab, which the PYD also wants to seize.

"The U.S. will make the PYD and Turkey clash in Syria. I believe that they will supply the arms to the PYD," Şentürk contended. He added that they would make the world believe that "Turkey fights Kurds."

Washington's continuous support for the PYD and the YPG has always troubled Turkish-U.S. relations. According to reports, U.S. President Barack Obama's Special Envoy for the Global Coalition visited Kobani early September and met with militants of the YPG to voice support for the terror group.

McGurk had paid a visit to PYD-controlled Kobani and held talks in February as well. Photos of McGurk's visit to Kobani surfaced on social media. He was seen meeting with former PKK fighters in Syria. Polat Can, known as the spokesman and one of the founders of the YPG, shared a photo on his Twitter account showing him presenting a plaque to McGurk.

Yaşar Hacısalihoğlu, Yeni Yüzyıl University's rector and an academic in the Department of International Relations, had told Daily Sabah at the time that the U.S.'s stance toward a strategic NATO ally such as Turkey is "not acceptable."

"Such behavior [of the U.S.] toward a NATO ally and significant partner that deteriorates relations is not sustainable," Hacısalihoğlu said.