Integration Talks Stalled
Discussions between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have hit a standstill, according to a government official. This development raises worries that the SDF will not be incorporated into the Syrian military by the approaching year-end deadline.
An unnamed senior official from the Syrian Foreign Ministry informed state media that negotiations with the SDF have been ongoing for weeks but have yielded no concrete results.
The official noted that demands from SDF negotiators do not align with current conditions, suggesting their participation is more about media messaging and alleviating political pressure than actual implementation.
In March, Damascus and SDF leadership reached an agreement for full integration into the Syrian Armed Forces by 2025. However, ongoing clashes between SDF and Syrian troops in northeastern regions and Aleppo have complicated this process.
The latest conflict occurred in Aleppo on December 22 during a visit from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The SDF played a crucial role in opposing former President Bashar Assad’s regime during the civil war, receiving substantial support from the U.S. It is regarded as an armed extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and Turkey.
The SDF reportedly favors an integration model that allows some of its battalions to join the Syrian army while retaining a degree of autonomy. Additionally, there has been no indication from the SDF regarding any willingness to merge its centralized administration in northeastern Syria with Damascus.
The new Syrian government’s diplomatic backing from Western nations, including the U.S., may indicate potential advancements in negotiations. Tom Barrack, U.S. special envoy to Syria, has emphasized that full integration into the Syrian Armed Forces is essential and that there will be no support for an autonomous region led by the SDF in northeastern Syria.
