In a significant development in relations between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces, officials from both sides confirmed that a new negotiating round will be held soon in the Syrian capital, under what officials described as a “very positive” atmosphere.
This reflects a genuine desire on both sides to continue implementing a previously signed principles agreement that covers sensitive issues, including the integration of military, administrative, and economic institutions.
According to a statement issued after a coordination meeting with the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Democratic Council, dialogue with Damascus is gaining seriousness. The statement emphasized the priority of political solutions to address contentious files, particularly the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces within the state structure, the return of displaced people, and ensuring representation of all components through an agreed implementation mechanism.
In other official statements, the Syrian Democratic Forces stressed that dialogue with Damascus is not merely procedural negotiation but rather a strategic choice aimed at establishing a decentralized local governance formula within the Syrian state that guarantees the rights of all components and ensures genuine political participation without resorting to violence. They added that this round comes within the framework of their commitment to implementing the agreement signed in March 2025, which stipulates integrating the civil and military institutions of the Autonomous Administration within state institutions, provided that fair representation is guaranteed for predominantly Kurdish regions as well as economic and cultural rights.
These talks are a pivotal step in the process of reunifying Syria after years of tension. They come at a time when Damascus reiterates the necessity of preserving the unity of the country, while the Syrian Democratic Forces view the agreement’s implementation as a potential model for decentralized democratic governance that can foster stability and accommodate ethnic and religious diversity.
Sources from the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria stated that the full integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into the state will be completed by the end of this year. The Autonomous Administration’s representative to the Gulf States, Sihanouk Dibou, told Independent Arabia that “the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Autonomous Administration possess the national will and independent decision necessary to reach a sustainable solution in Syria.”
He added that for the integration within the state to be lasting, strong, and resilient, it must be democratic, forming through it a new Syria as a democratic decentralized state representing all Syrians. He noted that one of the most critical clauses of the March tenth agreement is the effort to achieve integration before year’s end, though emphasis should be placed on the quality, form, and mechanisms of integration rather than the time frame itself. He affirmed that Syrians place far greater value on the quality of the solution than on the speed of its implementation.
The representative of the Autonomous Administration pointed out that “negotiations with the transitional Syrian government continue and have not stopped, even though the talks are far from ideal.” For his part, the Syrian Democratic Council’s representative in Damascus, Abdul Wahab Khalil, confirmed that the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces will indeed be completed before the end of this year, according to Independent Arabia.
Alan Berry, a political writer and graduate of the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Vienna residing in Austria, told +963 that the vision of the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Democratic Forces concerning Syria’s future is clear. They insist that the system of governance in the new Syria should be decentralized, namely a form of self governance that exercises broad powers within a single, sovereign Syrian state.
Berry added that the Syrian Democratic Forces seek to be integrated into the future Syrian army in the form of organized corps and divisions.
He affirmed that discussing a “constitution” at this stage would be unrealistic, explaining that constitutions gain respect only in states that have struggled to establish the rule of law and adherence to constitutional principles in times of disagreement. He noted that states classified in political science as “failed” or “fragile” do not have a functioning constitution in practice, but rather a small booklet that carries no real weight in the mindset of state institutions or in the collective consciousness of society.
Berry added that the guarantee lies in ensuring that the shape of the state is decentralized, with a pluralistic parliamentary system that allows peaceful transfer of power. He stressed the need for the Syrian Democratic Forces to retain their military structures and human capital within the future Syrian army.
He also emphasized that the Autonomous Administration does not seek to monopolize natural resources, clarifying that these resources belong to all Syrians. He added that decentralization will ensure fair distribution of these resources, unlike a centralized system that may mismanage them because they would be concentrated in the hands of a single administrative apparatus that could prevent regions from benefiting from them.
Berry noted that the time has come to reach a near final agreement on which a new stage in Syria may be built. He explained that the country has largely emerged from the civil war, and the next stage requires the major powers, meaning the interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, to agree on a shared governance formula before addressing the coastal and Suwayda files, since their fate will depend on the outcomes of this agreement.
Contentious Files and Practical Solutions
Dr. Ahmed Jasem al-Hussein, a political analyst, told +963 that the declared files include border crossings, military forces, local administration, and daily life matters. He added that the points of contention do not primarily lie in these files but rather in minor details and local specificities, such as the demands of Kurdish communities, noting that these issues will not constitute major obstacles to progress in the negotiations.
Al-Hussein emphasized that priorities are already agreed upon. He added that the international community acknowledges that prisons holding Islamic State detainees must be under the supervision of the Syrian government. He explained that guarantees lie in the law, the constitution, and mutual understanding among negotiating parties, whether from the government or the Autonomous Administration. He pointed out that ideological shifts are sometimes necessary to move beyond exclusion and foster mutual acceptance among Syrians.
He noted that all Syrian parties now agree that war or armed conflict is the worst option. He added that negotiation is far better than armed confrontation, stressing that obtaining half of one’s demands through negotiation is preferable to pursuing everything through war.
Al-Hussein affirmed that regions rich in oil or gas require special services to protect resources and employ local populations. He added that this mechanism is well known globally and has been proposed several times in Syria to ensure that local populations benefit positively from these resources.
Al-Hussein concluded by stating that the Syrian issue is an international file, not merely a local one. He noted that international pressures aim to reach gradual solutions, adding that intentions today appear constructive across all parties, whether in power or outside it. He stressed that negotiation and accommodating the demands of parties within the framework of the Syrian state represent the best possible solutions.
