Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy Ledeen: Pentagon greatly supports relations with Syrian Democratic Forces

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In a statement to North-Press Agency, Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for Middle East Policy Simone Ledeen said that relations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of North and East Syria is greatly supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and there is a desire to develop the relationship further.

“Many powerful and influential voices in the Pentagon defend the relation with the SDF,” said Ledeen. “But some foreign policy workers do not want the relation with the SDF to affect the relation with Turkey.”

Ledeen indicated that the U.S. Administration highly values ​​the SDF sacrifices.

“It would be in the U.S. interest for this relationship to continue for the long-term,” she added.

Ledeen expressed her concern that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will take advantage of the current rapprochement with the U.S. made possible by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to launch a new operation in the SDF-held areas.

The Turkish threat to destabilize North and East Syria persists, she concluded.