ISTANBUL — Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan are preparing to collaborate on eradicating the remnants of the Islamic State group, according to statements made by the Turkish foreign minister on Sunday.

This coalition could potentially enable the United States to distance itself from its alliances with Kurdish militants in Syria. The Turkish government has long expressed discontent over Washington’s longstanding support for Kurdish-led forces, particularly the People’s Defense Units (YPG), which Turkey asserts are connected to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union.

The YPG, a key faction within the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been instrumental in ongoing operations against the Islamic State alongside American special forces. The group is also responsible for the detention of numerous IS prisoners in northeastern Syria. “The fundamental issue is that the YPG is focused on guarding Daesh inmates and maintaining their detention… they are not involved in any other activities,” emphasized Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, referring to IS by its Arabic name.

Fidan stated that cooperation among Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan is essential for combating Daesh. He expressed confidence in the capability of these nations to succeed in this endeavor, indicating that preliminary discussions have already taken place regarding this planned collaboration.

While addressing the media in Doha, Qatar, alongside Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Fidan mentioned that the current Syrian government had signaled its willingness to take over the responsibilities of managing IS prisoners.

Turkey is urging U.S. President Trump to reconsider his support for the Kurdish fighters, who are viewed as terrorists by Ankara due to their associations with the PKK, which has opposed the Turkish state since 1984. “We are optimistic that President Trump will choose wisely and rectify this injustice… it’s a lingering issue that must be resolved quickly,” commented Fidan.

Following a resurgence of Syrian rebel attacks aimed at seizing control of the country, Turkish-backed forces have focused their efforts on targeting Kurdish groups, securing several towns in the process. Concurrently, the Turkish military has applied continuous pressure on Kurdish forces operating in Syria and northern Iraq; on Sunday, the Defense Ministry reported that Turkish forces eliminated 23 “PKK/YPG terrorists” in northern Syria, although additional specifics were not disclosed.

Ankara has also advocated for the cleansing of the SDF of individuals affiliated with the PKK, proposing their integration into a future Syrian military structure. Presently, about 2,000 U.S. troops remain stationed in northeastern Syria. During his first term, Trump indicated intentions to withdraw all U.S. forces from Syria, a decision that had initiated a Turkish offensive against the YPG in 2019.

The perceived camaraderie between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has led to speculation that Trump might again pursue the reduction of U.S. military presence in the region.