Foreign relations of Rojava

The foreign relations of Rojava refers to the external relations of the Rojava self-proclaimed autonomous region in Syria. The region, consisting of three cantons (Afrin, Kobani and Jazira), follows a political system known as democratic confederalism and was formed in early 2014, as part of 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.

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 early 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. The international volunteers with the People's Protection Units (YPG) self-defence militia have been widely reported on, as to a lesser extent have the international volunteers with the Rojava Plan infrastructure-building initiative.

By 2017, Turkish deterrence against international civil society engagement in Rojava has been breaking down. From September 2017, Médecins Sans Frontières operates the National Hospital in Hasakah, which had been abandoned by the Syrian government.

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