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McGurk joined Biden's NSC: Another nightmare for Erdogan
The former American special envoy for the global coalition to defeat Islamic State, Brett McGurk has been appointed to join the U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's team. Brett McGurk will be among the National Security Council as senior director for the Middle East and North Africa. In other words, this new McGurk's position is highly important in terms of US military presence in Syria and expected to become a big concern for President Erdogan.
Despite the fact that the return of Brett McGurk as a director of NSC that do not allow him a direct role in Syria as he was in his previous post a special envoy under Obama's administration. It will be the most concern and challenge for Turkey. Firstly, McGurk is well-known as staunch ally and the most pro-Kurdish US diplomat with the new-elected President Joe Biden, and he was against Turkey's policy and occupation in northeast Syria. Secondly, McGurk's resignation in December 2018 was over Donald Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from northeast Syria; additionally, Turkey with Syrian mercenaries launched a military offensive against the US allies the Kurdish Democratic Forces (SDF) that led to the more Turkish occupation. Added to that, the new Middle East coordinator on the National Security Council B. McGurk has criticized the Erdogan's policy on Syria and especially against Kurds, and even he accused Erdogan on harbouring the IS leader by asking "How exactly was Baghdadi living in a safe house with well-prepared tunnels less than 5km from your border?".
After the announcement of B. McGurk in the new appointed NSC's Cabinet, the Turkish officials were disappointed regarding the rise of tension with US and said, "McGurk has harmed Turkish-American relations" and they accused him in supporting the Kurdish forces. On the other hand, the Kurds are more optimistic and welcoming back the returning McGurk's new position that, definitely, will strengthening the Kurdish-American relations, and preventing more Turkish attacks on Kurds. Furthermore, during former US president Obama/Biden administration, the former special envoy to defeat IS Brett McGurk has played an essential role in providing military support for Kurdish fighters and the Syrian Democratic Forces and has built a strong relationship with Kurds.
Arguably, under the new-elected US President Joe Biden's administration and the newly appointed coordinator for the Middle East and Syria Brett McGurk, the Kurds are expecting more military presence and support from the US. Bringing stability to the Kurdish-controlled region will be the main Kurdish concern and hope simultaneously with protecting the region from Turkish threats as well as from Russia and Assad's regime forces whose attempts repeatedly to take control of the area of Ayn Issa and various other places.
Zara Saleh
