The Kurds' fortunes have ebbed and flowed in recent years, influenced by the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the 2025 decision by the Kurdistan Workers' Party to dissolve. The 2026 U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has further altered the landscape.
Experts assess that these events present both risks and opportunities for the Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran. The war has unsettled Ankara, but also created dynamics that strengthen the hand of central governments toward their own Kurdish groups.
This development helps Ankara advance its PKK disarmament process, given the interlinked nature of Kurdish politics across borders. Erdogan has announced efforts to speed up the PKK's disbandment, making Turkey's Kurdish opening more urgent.
