Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday, reiterated Ankara's opposition to the presence of Syrian Kurdish fighters supported by Washington, emphasizing that they "cannot be allowed to take shelter in Syria."

A spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that Fidan specifically referred to the People's Protection Units (YPG), the leading force in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Ankara regards the YPG as a Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group Turkiye has designated as a terrorist organization.

Turkiye has long criticized the US for its partnership with the SDF in northern Syria, while Washington claims that the Kurdish-led forces are essential to preventing the resurgence of ISIS. The US credits SDF for playing a central role in allegedly defeating ISIS militants in 2019.

During the conversation, Fidan conveyed Turkiye's support for efforts by Syria's new administration to maintain "territorial integrity and security." He also stressed the importance of coordinated action, saying, "It is important to act in cooperation with the new Syrian administration in order to ensure stability in Syria and to complete the transition period in an orderly manner," according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Read more: Trump will have to prioritize Turkiye security over Kurds: Turkish FM

ISIS resurgence, US troops' future uncertain in Syria

A recent report by the Washington Post on Monday explained that the sudden ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has led to uncertainty about the long-standing US military presence in the country.

As the Pentagon's primary partner in Syria, the SDF fight for survival as US President-elect Donald Trump, who is skeptical of foreign military commitments, will face a transformed Middle East when he begins his second term next month. One of the key questions will be the future of the nearly 2,000 US troops stationed in eastern Syria.

The Washington Post notes that despite Trump’s repeated threats to withdraw US forces from Syria during his first term, he has not revealed any specific plans for the troops there. However, he and his advisors have emphasized that "containing" ISIS will remain a top priority.

In turn, James Jeffrey, former US Special Envoy for Syria during Trump’s first term, framed the narrative, saying that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has fought ISIS in the past, as mentioned in the report. 

Significantly, the report fails to mention the pretext under which the two armed groups fought, leaving the intricate details of the 13-year war in Syria unaddressed. However,  the Washington Post stressed that Jefferey argued that this aforementioned point could increase pressure on Trump to justify the US presence in Syria.

Read more: Trump could lead new Iran deal after Assad's fall: Sullivan

Jeffrey told the Washington Post, "Trump will ask: Why should I keep troops to fight ISIS, when our entire fight is basically bombing them in the desert?"

He added, "It will be extremely difficult to answer that question."

The Washington Post further reports that Representative Michael Waltz, chosen by Trump as National Security Advisor, said the president would prioritize reducing foreign entanglements. However, Waltz also acknowledged that preventing the return of ISIS remains "the number one priority," making the military strategy for the incoming administration unclear.