Washington, DC – Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that abandoning its Kurdish allies in northeastern Syria would be a “moral and strategic disaster.” He also asserted that such a move would undermine Washington’s credibility with its international allies in the future.
Division within the United States
Pompeo’s remarks, delivered via the “X” platform, were a response to a post by prominent Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. This also comes amid reports indicating a shift in US policy toward the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Pompeo elaborated on the following points:
Vital Role: The Kurds played a pivotal role in defeating ISIS.
National Interests: Abandoning them harms long-term US interests in the Middle East.
Regional Stability: Kurdish forces are essential partners in maintaining stability and combating terrorism.
Context of the field crisis
These warnings come at a time of dramatic shifts in the Syrian arena. Recent diplomatic statements—including those attributed to US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack—suggest the possibility of withdrawing support from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) or pushing them to integrate into the Syrian army, under the pretext that their primary mission of fighting ISIS has ended.
For his part, Senator Lindsey Graham affirmed that there is a “strong consensus” within the Senate, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, on the need to protect the groups that have supported Washington. He also warned of a deterioration in the security situation in Syria should US support be withdrawn.
