Moving Towards Peace? Prospects and Challenges of the Türkiye-PKK Talks
On February 27, 2025, Abdullah Öcalan, the founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), called for the group’s disbandment. This pivotal moment followed three months of talks between Erdoğan’s government, the pro-Kurdish DEM party, and imprisoned PKK leaders.
The deal with the PKK will likely bolster Türkiye’s regional standing by improving relations with the U.S., as well as improved ties with Iraq. This may result in enhanced U.S.-Türkiye cooperation in Syria and economic cooperation between Ankara and Baghdad, while pushing back Iran, which Türkiye accuses of backing the PKK.
However, significant risks persist: Kurdish militants refusing to heed Öcalan’s call might regroup, while Erdoğan’s and Bahçeli’s lack of tangible concessions to the DEM party and crackdown on civil society could lead to renewed violence.