Partnering with a Patron: Syrian Kurdish Factions as US Proxies in the Syrian Civil War

This chapter examines the unique partnership between the Syrian Kurds and the USA amid the still-ongoing Syrian Civil War. The authors argue that the relationship of the Syrian Kurdish (and other allied) factions that were supported by the USA primarily in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) may be viewed as a special case of partner-proxy ties, blurring the lines between the notion of partnership and proxyship. It explores how, why, and to what extent the Syrian Kurdish factions shaped US policy and interests in Syria and in the broader US campaign against ISIS. An assessment is also offered concerning the US decision to employ the SDF/YPG as proxy warriors against ISIS, and how this decision impacted the dynamics of the civil war in Syria and the relations between the USA and other powers, namely Turkey and Russia. To conclude with, in light of the shifting security situation in Syria and the resurgence of ISIS, questions are raised as to the future relationship between Syrian Kurds and their US patrons.