Future of Syrian Kurds in limbo as integration talks falter

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), met Wednesday in Damascus with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, alongside U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, in a bid to revive stalled efforts to integrate Kurdish-led institutions into the Syrian state.

The meeting follows a U.S.-brokered agreement signed on March 10 between Abdi and al-Sharaa. However, its implementation has faced delays due to sharp disagreements. 

The Kurdish administration, which governs large oil- and gas-rich areas in northern and northeastern Syria, demands a decentralized governance model—an idea firmly rejected by Syria’s new Islamist-led authorities.

The U.S.-backed SDF played a pivotal role in defeating ISIS in Syria. But the current government, which ousted Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, insists on dismantling all armed groups in the country. Kurdish leaders, however, are unwilling to disband their military forces, citing the need for regional autonomy and protection.

In May, Abdi emphasized the need for a decentralized Syria where all communities could coexist, warning that centralization would only deepen divisions. Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Chaibani had earlier cautioned that delays in implementing the agreement could fuel continued instability after 14 years of civil war.

The struggle to define Syria’s future governance remains a core challenge for the country’s fragile political transition.