One of the most important issues in the Syrian crisis from the beginning has been the Kurdish relationship with the Syrian central government. The Syrian Kurds have occasionally shown willingness to reach an agreement with Damascus, albeit at a time when their alliance with the United States has not worked out and Washington has left them alone in the face of Turkish attacks. Meanwhile, negotiations with Damascus at various times have not yielded tangible results. Another dimension of the Syrian crisis was the alliance of the Kurds with the US government. Although the issue, which the United States has blamed it for fighting ISIS, has benefited the Kurds, Washington has easily stepped aside at critical times twice when Turkey has attacked the Kurds, pushing them back from strategically important areas. The future of the Kurds-Damascus talks, as well as the prospect of a Kurdish alliance with the United States under Joe Biden, who is considered a better friend of the Kurds, prompted an interview with Dr. Fabrice Balanche, a senior expert on Kurdish-Syrian issues at the University of Lyon 2 France.

"The Kurds are eager to have an agreement with Damascus, because the longer they wait, less Damascus will accept concessions. Damascus was ready to make concessions, in 2019, on limited autonomy and the use of the Kurdish language, but since October 2019 the situation has changed. Damascus wants Northeastern Syria back under its control with only a pardon for those who worked with the Autonomous Administration. For now, American troops are still in Syria, which prevents the Syrian army from seizing the Northeast, but the Kurds know that American soldiers will not stay forever. Granted, Biden won't unilaterally withdraw his troops like Donald Trump did in October 2019, but the Kurds are afraid of paying the price for a US-Iran nuclear deal," the professor told KurdPress about a deal between the Kurds in Syria and the central government of the Damascus.

Possible new Turkey attack against Syrian Kurds

"In addition, Turkey dreams of eliminating the Kurds from northern Syria. The Kurdish territories are still under threat of a new Turkish offensive," he said about a possible new Turkey attack on the Syrian Kurds.

The professor warned that there is the possibility of a Russia cooperation with Turkey against the Kurds and stated that "Russia will let it go because its priority is to take back Idlib. Since 2016, the Russia-Turkey relationship has been operating on the exchange of Kurdish territories against the decrease in Turkish support for the Syrian opposition."

Clashes between Syrian forces and the Kurds

"We have clashes between the Syrian army and the SDF because the Syrian army blocks the action of the SDF in Shahba, therefore the SDF blocks the Syrian army in Hassaka and Qamishli," the professor told KurdPress about the reasons behind sporadic clashes between Syrian forces and the Kurdish fighters

About the reasons behind the clashes he stated that "the aim of the Syrian army and Russia is to show the SDF who is stronger so that they stop relying on the United States."

The prospect of a Biden support to Syrian Kurds

About the future of cooperation between the Kurds in Syria and the US government under the presidency of Joe Biden, Dr. Fabrice Balanche stated: "Biden is less unpredictable than Trump. It will not unilaterally withdraw its troops from northeastern Syria. But he also has no intention of keeping US troops in the Northeast forever. He just wants to help the Kurds negotiate from a position of strength with Damascus and keep a card in Syria. He would like the YPG to break with the PKK to reassure Turkey. It will be difficult and Turkey anyway, PKK or not, does not want YPGs on its border."

"If the American troops withdraw, Turkey will attack the Kurds. Kobane is an excellent target because, wedged between Jarablous and Tel Abyad, the YPG cannot use the M4 road between Tel Tamer and Ain Ayssa," hr said about the possibility of Turkey attacks against the Kurds in Syria in case US forces are pulled out of the war-torn country.

He urged the Kurds to make a deal with Russia instead of the US and said: "An agreement with Russia may be possible to protect the Kurdish northeast (the Qameshli region) in exchange for Raqqa and Deir al Zor returning to the Syrian army. The Kurds could perhaps keep a limited autonomy under Russian protection, like the rebels in Daraa."

"The protection of the Kurds by Biden will be limited. The Kurds are protected as long as it is in the interests of the US. Relations between the US and Turkey are strained. But Biden does not want Turkey to leave NATO. It is difficult to say whether the US would oppose Turkey militarily in the event of an attack on the Kurds. In Afrin and Ras al-Ain the US has done nothing," the university professor said about the possibility of Biden support to the Kurds if they are attacked by Turkish forces.

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