Turkey, PKK Seek Peace Deal Amid Erdogan's Political Maneuvering

In a significant development for Turkey's long-standing conflict with Kurdish separatists, Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has called for disarmament and the dissolution of the group, potentially paving the way for a new peace process. This call comes amid political maneuvers by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who seeks to secure Kurdish support for constitutional amendments that would allow him to run for a third presidential term in 2028. Analysts suggest that a successful resolution of this conflict could bolster Erdoğan's domestic standing while also alleviating regional tensions, particularly with Kurdish groups in Syria. However, skepticism remains regarding the PKK's internal divisions and the actual implementation of disarmament. Erdogan's prior attempts at peace negotiations have failed, raising questions about the sincerity of this new initiative. As the Turkish economy exhibits growth, the prospect of stability may further motivate a political resolution to this decades-long insurgency.