Erdogan Urged to Negotiate Peace Deal with Kurds

Kurdish PKK burns its weapons and Turkey's president Erdogan talks about establishing a "long-lasting peace". But a long process remains, estimates Turkey expert Michael Sahlin.

» Published: July 11 2025

Erdogan Urged to Negotiate Peace Deal with Kurds
Photo: Cornelius Poppe/NTB/TT

Share this article

Already in 2015, an attempt was made in Turkey to solve what one calls the "Kurdish issue". Now a new attempt is being made, and there are several reasons why it is happening right now, according to former ambassador to Turkey Michael Sahlin.

–The regime in Turkey has again developed a strong interest in trying to make an agreement with the Kurds because they need votes from the Kurdish side to be able to stay in power. Erdogan's mandate expires in 2028, and then Erdogan and his people know that they must make a deal with the Kurds.

Weakened PKK

There are no concrete promises of concessions to the PKK for the organization – which, among other things, has been terrorist-stamped by the USA, EU, and Turkey – to lay down its arms. But the PKK is substantially militarily weakened and makes a pessimistic assessment of the possibility of getting anywhere with military means, according to Sahlin.

–One then sees that there is only one party that one could make a deal with: and that is the dominant AKP (Erdogan's party).

The PKK has also been faced with a changed world around them. In the USA, Trump is sitting, whom they do not have support from, and in Syria, a new regime has taken place that wants to incorporate Kurds into a unified government. Thus, the hope of an independent, PKK-near Kurdistan in northeastern Syria disappears.

All of this is negative factors and, in addition, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan personally wants to get out of his prison sentence, says Sahlin.

Symbolic value

The PKK has, in the face of a peace process, demanded that Öcalan be released, and that former combatants receive amnesty in Turkey and can work politically within a democratic structure.

Michael Sahlin is skeptical that Turkey will meet the demands.

–It has such an enormous symbolic value. Öcalan has been regarded as a baby murderer – the entire Turkish nationalism has been built on him as a monster figure. To then completely release him, I think will be very difficult. But it may be about giving him more freedom, maybe even house arrest.

Long process

A general amnesty for the PKK, one of many hated organizations by Turks, he does not consider likely either.

–But something must Erdogan offer. So it's a very tricky balancing act. And it may be a very long process, it can take several years before it goes particularly far. Everything depends on the connection to the development in Syria, and the democratization trend in Turkey - if it exists.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Gaza City Evacuation Plan Deemed Unrealistic by Red Cross Chief
2 MIN READ

Gaza City Evacuation Plan Deemed Unrealistic by Red Cross Chief

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv
1 MIN READ

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives
1 MIN READ

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured
1 MIN READ

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured

EU Faces Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine
1 MIN READ

EU Faces Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution
1 MIN READ

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death
2 MIN READ

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death

Landslide Blocks E6 in Norway; One Person Missing
3 MIN READ

Landslide Blocks E6 in Norway; One Person Missing

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan
2 MIN READ

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan

EU Remains Divided on Sanctions Against Israel Over Gaza Conflict
3 MIN READ

EU Remains Divided on Sanctions Against Israel Over Gaza Conflict

White House Efforts Ongoing for Putin-Zelensky Meeting
1 MIN READ

White House Efforts Ongoing for Putin-Zelensky Meeting

Trump's Vision to Transform Washington DC: Safety and Beautification Plans
3 MIN READ

Trump's Vision to Transform Washington DC: Safety and Beautification Plans

Ukraine Hit by Massive Overnight Attacks; Several Injured
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Hit by Massive Overnight Attacks; Several Injured

Missouri Governor Seeks to Redraw Electoral Districts for GOP Gains
1 MIN READ

Missouri Governor Seeks to Redraw Electoral Districts for GOP Gains

Italian Website Sharing Sexist Images of Politicians Shut Down
1 MIN READ

Italian Website Sharing Sexist Images of Politicians Shut Down

US Denies Visa for Palestinian President Abbas Ahead of UN Meeting
2 MIN READ

US Denies Visa for Palestinian President Abbas Ahead of UN Meeting

France and Germany Boost Ukraine Air Defense Amid Russian Attacks
2 MIN READ

France and Germany Boost Ukraine Air Defense Amid Russian Attacks

Turkey Closes Airspace to Israel Amid Gaza Conflict
1 MIN READ

Turkey Closes Airspace to Israel Amid Gaza Conflict

Trump Ends Kamala Harris' Extended Bodyguard Protection
1 MIN READ

Trump Ends Kamala Harris' Extended Bodyguard Protection

69 Dead as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Mauritania Coast
1 MIN READ

69 Dead as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Mauritania Coast