Publication

This publication contends that the conflict in north eastern Syria has entered a new phase, one made all the more volatile by the possibility of a US withdrawal. Such a move by Washington could escalate the conflict by compelling the competing actors — including the US-supported People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish group; Bashar al-Assad’s regime; and Turkey — to scramble for advantage. To avert potential chaos, the text authors recommend the best solution could be decentralization negotiated by these actors, backed by Washington and Moscow. As a result, the US should not undertake a precipitous withdrawal but instead provide the YPG the time, space and leverage needed for negotiations.