Foreign relations of Rojava

Foreign relations of Rojava refer to external ties and communications of the Rojava self-proclaimed autonomous region in Syria. The region, consisting of three cantons (Afrin, Kobani and Jazira), formally follows a political system known as democratic confederalism and was formed in early 2014. These events have been dubbed by some as the Rojava Revolution. It is currently embroiled in the Syrian Civil War, a conflict that has caused the involvement of many different countries and international organizations in the area.

The Constitution of Rojava, which defines Rojava as an integral part of Syria and not a separate country, states that "the Autonomous Regions shall not interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries, and it shall safeguard its relations with neighboring states, resolving any conflicts peacefully." It also mandates, among other executive council bodies, a Body of Foreign Relations.

Foreign relations of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava

Relations with UN member states

See also: Syrian Democratic Forces §  Support by the United States, France and other Western nations

• Belgium – In September 2016, the 8th conference of Rojava's leading Democratic Union Party (PYD) was held in Brussels. 500 PYD members, including its leaders, and many others (including Abdul Rahman Haji Ahmadi) attended.
• Czech Republic – Rojava's People's Protection Units (YPG) self-defence militia since April 2016 has an official representation in Prague.
• Finland – According to a magazine Suomen Kuvalehti, Finland is planning on giving Rojava some support for developing government and rebuilding infrastructure.
• France – In May 2016, the Rojava administration opened a representation office in Paris. In February 2015, President Francois Hollande has met with the PYD co-leader Asya Abdullah and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) commander Nesrin Abdullah in the Elysee Palace. French Special Operations Command Forces are supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces in operations. In August 2016, a French delegation and the People’s Municipality Board in Rojava signed a contract to open the center in the Kurdish and French languages in order to bring the cultures of Rojava and France together, and separately the opening of a branch of the Paris 8 University in Rojava is discussed.

Salih Muslim, co-chairman of Rojava's leading Democratic Union Party (PYD) with Ulla Jelpke at Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Berlin

• Germany – In May 2016, the Rojava administration opened a representation office in Berlin.
• Greece – The co-chairman of Rojava's leading Democratic Union Party (PYD), Salih Muslim, has been an official guest of Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras' governing Syriza party at their congress in October 2016. In February 2016, Muslim had attended the Öcalan Conference in Athens.
• Iraq – Iraqi Kurdistan – Rojava shares much culturally with Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region of Iraq, but has many political differences. There has been a military cooperation with Iraqi Kurdistan and the United States, although there is no official support for Rojava or the YPG. The Kurdistan Regional Government where the Kurdistan Democratic Party is in power is an ally of Turkey and has co-operated to enforce a unilateral economic blockade against Rojava which has damaged and limited Rojava's economy. The "Sultanistic system" of Iraqi Kurdistan stands in stark contrast to the Democratic Confederalist system of Rojava.
• Italy – In June 2015, Women's Protection Units (YPJ) commander Nesrin Abdullah was invited to speak in the Italian parliament. In July 2016, the co-chairperson of the leading Democratic Union Party (PYD), Asya Abdullah, held talks with a number of senior government officials in Rome.
• Netherlands – In September 2016, the Rojava administration opened a representation office in The Hague.
• Russia – In February 2016, the Rojava administration opened a representation office in Moscow amid growing ties between Russia and Rojava. Russia has lent outstanding support to Rojava in the diplomatic arena, in particular more clearly than any other country calling for its inclusion in the Geneva III peace talks on Syria, and to some degree carrying their positions into the talks, as documented in Russia's May 2016 draft for a new constitution for Syria.
• Sweden – In April 2016, the Rojava administration opened a representation office in Stockholm.

Demonstration for solidarity with Rojava, in Vienna, 2014

• Turkey – Turkey is hostile towards Rojava, because it fears that the polyethnic and secular character of Rojava would encourage resistance against the longstanding policy of Turkification within Turkey, fuel activism for autonomy or separatism among Kurds in Turkey and the Kurdish–Turkish conflict, and be an obstacle to its recent Sunni Islamist oriented foreign policies. Next to giving material support to parties in the Syrian Civil War who would fight Rojava, to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as well as to other Islamist rebel groups, Turkey has across the border shelled population centers in Rojava, causing property damage but also injury and death of civilians. In 2014 Turkey was accused of supporting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) attacks on the YPG, allowing them to conduct attacks from the Turkish border and providing logistical support. Turkey has made repeated claims that the People's Protection Units (YPG) is identical to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and others; Rojava and YPG leaders insist the PKK is a separate organization. The categorical and uncompromising hostility towards Rojava has cost Turkey much of its international standing and influence in regional politics. Opposition leader Selahattin Demirtas has argued for Turkey and other countries to recognize Rojava and work with it as a partner.
• United Kingdom – In January 2015, a British Parliament committee asked the government of Prime Minister David Cameron to explain and justify its policy of not working with the Rojava's military in combating ISIS. United Kingdom Special Forces are supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces in operations.
• United States – The US Department of State have announced limited support of the PYD in February 2016. However the US opposed the unilateral establishment of a federal region in northern Syria. In March 2016, the day after the declaration of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter praised the Rojava YPG militia as having "proven to be excellent partners of ours on the ground in fighting ISIL. We are grateful for that, and we intend to continue to do that, recognizing the complexities of their regional role." The USA have perseveringly supported the YPG militia in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), both with air support in combat and with embedded Special Operation Forces. During the May 2016 offensive in Northern Raqqa, US Special Operation Forces were widely reported and photographed to be present, and to wear badges of YPG and YPJ on their uniforms. When in June 2016 the Manbij offensive started, the Washington Post reported it under the headline of "Ignoring Turkey, U.S. backs Kurds in drive against ISIS in Syria".

Relations with International Organisations

• European Union – In July 2016, the European Parliament drew much political attention with a photo exhibition dedicated to Rojava.
• United Nations – While the Rojava administration is not invited to the Geneva III peace talks on Syria, or any of the earlier talks, in particular Russia, which calls for their inclusion, does to some degree carry their positions into the talks, as documented in Russia's May 2016 draft for a new constitution for Syria. On 6 June 2016, Rojava's leading PYD party said that the United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura sent a detailed letter to the PYD leadership with an invitation to the next round of talks.

Relations with International Civil Society

See also: Libertarian socialism and Libertarian municipalism

The socio-political transformations of the "Rojava Revolution" have inspired much attention in international media, both in mainstream media and in dedicated progressive leftist media.

Among the established international Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) active in Rojava are Handicap International and DanChurchAid, while many established NGOs are deterred by the aggressive Turkish embargo policy. However, there are numerous purpose-built initiatives of international support for Rojava and people in Rojava as well as a considerable amount of freelance volunteers. Particularly notable in media has been international volunteers with the People's Protection Units (YPG) self-defence militia as well as international volunteers with the Rojava Plan infrastructure building initiative.

A number of international NGOs help to support huge number of refugees who have fled to Rojava from other parts of Syria or from Iraq, while trying to keep a low profile for the aforementioned reason.

Foreign relations of Rojava cantons

File:Seal of the Cizire Canton foreign relations board.png

Seal of the Jazira Canton's Foreign Relations Board

Jazira Canton

In August 2016, the University of Rojava, established by the Jazira Canton Board of Education, concluded an agreement with Paris 8 University in France for cooperation.

Kobani Canton

In April 2015, the municipality of Rome, capital of Italy, has taken the decision to recognise the municipality of Kobani as a sister city.

In September 2016, Kurdish Red Crescent opened a hospital in Kobanî under the name of "Kobani Hospital", their first hospital in Kobanî Canton, after many international organizations had given a helping hand as well as sending them special medical equipment, UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders in particurlar.

See also

• Rojava–Syrian government relations
• YPG-FSA relations