Turkey and PKK Move Toward Historic Peace Talks After Ocalan's Call to Disarm

Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's unprecedented disarmament appeal signals potential end to decades-long conflict, with significant political and regional implications.

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has called for the group to lay down arms and dissolve, marking a pivotal moment in Turkey's Kurdish conflict.
Turkey's government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is pursuing renewed peace negotiations with the PKK, the first sustained effort since a failed attempt in 2014.
The proposed peace process could help Erdogan secure Kurdish support for constitutional changes, potentially enabling him to run for a third term in 2028.
Regional dynamics, including Syria's post-Assad landscape and concerns over Israel's growing influence among Kurdish groups, are shaping Turkey's strategic motivations for reconciliation.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq has expressed support for the peace plan, which could stabilize Kurdish regions and reduce cross-border military operations.