Syria’s New Government Declines Paris Talks with Kurdish-Led SDF

Syria’s new government will not participate in upcoming meetings with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Paris, state media reported on Saturday, as relations between the two sides face renewed strain.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), citing an unnamed government source, said that future negotiations should be held in Damascus, describing the capital as “the legitimate and national address for dialogue among Syrians”.

The announcement raises uncertainty over the implementation of an integration agreement signed earlier this year between the SDF and the interim government that assumed power following the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

The SDF, a key partner of the United States during operations against ISIL (ISIS) in Syria, signed the deal in March to join Syria’s state institutions. The agreement aims to reunify territories after 14 years of conflict, with Kurdish-led forces — currently controlling around one-quarter of the country — and regional Kurdish administrations integrating into the national framework.

However, the arrangement did not clarify how SDF fighters would be incorporated into Syria’s armed forces. The SDF has maintained that its members should join as a collective unit, while the government has indicated they should enlist individually.

Saturday’s statement came one day after the Kurdish administration hosted a conference with representatives from various Syrian minority communities — the first such meeting since al-Assad’s departure from power.

The conference concluded with a call for a “democratic constitution” that would establish a decentralised state and ensure representation for all groups within Syrian society. Damascus has previously opposed proposals for decentralisation.