PKK/YPG's election efforts face US pressure and Turkish resistance Report of Center for Strategic Studies

The PKK/YPG terrorist organization is trying to present itself as a "legitimate democratic player" by organizing so-called local elections in the areas controlled by the group in northern Syria.

However, the US, on whose support the terrorists rely, does not want tensions with Türkiye over the PKK/YPG amid the current geopolitical situation.

According to Anadolu, this is stated in a report by Omer Ozkizilcik of the Umran Center for Strategic Studies titled "The YPG's failed attempt to hold elections: will the organization choose an alternative to Damascus?".

The document notes that the terrorist organization has been conducting "constitutional work" and lobbying for national and international recognition of the "state" it seeks to establish in Syria, and that the "elections" planned by the PKK/YPG in the regions it occupies are a tool to achieve this goal.

The report emphasizes that Türkiye's stance, the US approach, and the resistance of the local population present a serious obstacle to the PKK/YPG's attempts to gain legitimacy.

The report states that the United States issued a warning to the group behind closed doors and demanded that the pseudo-elections be cancelled. According to the author, this points to two fundamental facts. "First, the US is not ready to officially recognize the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria established by the YPG. Secondly, against the background of the current geopolitical conjuncture, the US does not want tension in relations with Türkiye because of the YPG," the paper said.

Particular attention is drawn to the fact that the US is eager to withdraw its forces from Syria but does not want to "surrender" the country to Iran, and the upcoming elections in the United States make an agreement between the two NATO allies (the US and Türkiye) possible. "It can be seen that the US needs Türkiye in the Syrian context and is not willing to spoil the improving bilateral relations with Türkiye for the sake of the YPG," the report explained.