Erbil, Iraq– French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot met Wednesday with General Mazloum Abdi, commander of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council’s foreign relations office, in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The meeting focused on stabilizing northeast Syria, strengthening political dialogue, and France’s role in Syria’s transitional process, according to local media outlet North Press.
Barrot’s engagement with Kurdish leaders comes months after his visit to Damascus, shortly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December. During that trip, he emphasized the importance of including all ethnic and political groups, particularly Kurds, in Syria’s post-conflict political future.
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France has been a long-standing supporter of the SDF, which has played a key role in the fight against Islamic State (ISIS). President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed this commitment in a January call with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, saying the Kurdish-led SDF “leads the fight against ISIS” and must be fully integrated into Syria’s national dialogue.
Macron has repeatedly praised Syrian Kurdish forces as crucial allies in combating terrorism, declaring, “We will not abandon those fighting for freedom.”
While in Baghdad on the same trip, Barrot also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. The officials discussed regional stability, particularly in Syria, and France’s ongoing role in the anti-ISIS coalition.
