Shafaq News
– Damascus
Talks
between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of
North and East Syria (AANES) have ended without progress, a senior Kurdish
official told Shafaq News, citing Damascus’s continued rejection of a
decentralized political system.
According to
the source, during the meeting between both sides, Syrian government
representatives reaffirmed their commitment to a centralized state structure,
rejecting all proposals for federalism or decentralization — the core demand of
the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish administration.
The SDF
delegation also opposed the Syrian government’s recently issued constitutional
declaration, calling for substantial amendments to enshrine Kurdish rights,
guarantee political pluralism, and ensure fair representation for all Syrian
communities.
Syrian
officials, the source added, insisted that the SDF fully implement the March 10
agreement signed between interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and SDF Commander
Mazloum Abdi. The agreement calls for the unconditional handover of all areas
under SDF control to the central government by the end of the year.
A key point
of contention remains the form of “integration” proposed in the agreement.
While the SDF seeks to maintain its military and administrative autonomy and
join as a bloc, Damascus demands full incorporation into state institutions —
including the dissolution of all SDF military and civilian bodies.
The official
noted that further negotiations are expected, although no breakthrough appears
likely amid mounting pressure on the SDF from various directions.
The SDF
currently controls vast areas of northeastern Syria and fields around 100,000
armed personnel, in addition to more than 200,000 civilian employees operating
within a network of institutions modeled after those of Iraq’s Kurdistan
Region.
Turkish Pressure, US–French Mediation
The deadlock
in the Damascus–SDF talks is taking place against a backdrop of regional and
international involvement. Turkiye continues to pressure the Syrian government
to dismantle the SDF, which Ankara regards as an extension of the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Meanwhile,
the United States and France are actively encouraging a political settlement
that would lead to the integration of the SDF into the Syrian state framework.
Both countries have provided years of support to the SDF, particularly during
its campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS).
The US
government recently allocated $130 million to the SDF in its proposed 2026
defense budget, signaling continued backing.
Another SDF
official confirmed to Shafaq News that the negotiations with Damascus are being
closely monitored by the US and French foreign ministries, as part of
international efforts to reach a final agreement and avoid any potential
escalation in the region.
The official
also pointed to a shift in Washington’s stance in recent months, especially
following US President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and his
announcement lifting some sanctions on Damascus. “Washington has since
increased pressure on the SDF to accelerate its incorporation into the Syrian
military and civilian institutions,” the source said.
US envoy Tom
Barrack criticized the SDF’s approach during a visit to Damascus on Wednesday,
describing the group as “slow” to engage constructively with the Syrian
government. “I think there’s only one road, and it leads to Damascus,” he said,
following meetings with President al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi.
Kurdish Vision
For Decentralization
Syrian Kurds
continue to call for a decentralized model of governance. In a joint
declaration issued during a Kurdish unity conference held in Qamishli in April,
political parties outlined a shared vision for a parliamentary and pluralistic
Syria.
The Kurdish
roadmap proposes a bicameral parliamentary system, the peaceful transfer of
power, separation of powers, and regional councils within a decentralized
framework to ensure a fair distribution of authority and resources between the
center and the periphery.
It further
calls for revising Syria’s administrative divisions in line with demographics
and geography, and recognizing Kurdish-majority areas as a political and
administrative unit within a federal Syrian state.
The plan
also advocates that the country’s name, flag, and national anthem reflect
Syria’s cultural and ethnic diversity. It urges constitutional guarantees for
the rights of all groups — including Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmen, and
religious minorities — through supraconstitutional principles.
Syrian Government
Rejects Federalism
The Syrian
government has reiterated its strong opposition to any form of federalism or
division, arguing that such arrangements threaten Syria’s sovereignty and
territorial unity.
In a
statement issued on Wednesday and carried by state media, Damascus said it
welcomed any initiative from the SDF that would strengthen the unity of the
country, while reaffirming its commitment to the principle of “one Syria, one
army, one government.”
It warned
that delaying the implementation of signed agreements would only hinder efforts
to restore security and stability and called for the return of official state
institutions — including health, education, and local administration — to the
northeast to ensure basic services and end the administrative vacuum.
The
government described the Syrian army as a national institution that welcomes
the integration of SDF fighters within its ranks, under existing legal and
constitutional frameworks.
While
acknowledging the challenges facing some factions within the SDF, the statement
cautioned that betting on separatist projects or foreign agendas would
ultimately fail. It called on all parties to recommit to a unified national
identity and participate in the broader Syrian state project.
The
government reaffirmed that Syria’s Kurdish population remains an essential
component of the country’s diverse social fabric, and emphasized that the
rights of all citizens are preserved and respected within state institutions —
not outside them.
