A crucial round of negotiations between the new Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has collapsed, jeopardizing a landmark agreement aimed at integrating the region into a post-Assad Syria. A planned meeting in Damascus was abruptly canceled after the Syrian Foreign Minister refused to attend due to the presence of American officials, who had helped broker the talks.
According to exclusive information obtained by Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, a high-level meeting was scheduled for Thursday between Ilham Ahmed, a senior Kurdish official and co-chair of the AANES Foreign Relations Department, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. Sources close to both the Syrian ministry and the Autonomous Administration confirmed that al-Shaibani's refusal to meet was a direct protest against the attendance of the US officials. Ahmed has since departed the Syrian capital and returned to territory controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The now-scuttled meeting was intended to establish a roadmap for implementing the landmark agreement announced on March 10. In a significant political development, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa appeared alongside SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi to unveil a plan that included integrating the SDF into the national Syrian army, constitutionally guaranteeing the rights of the Kurdish population, managing the return of displaced persons, and jointly administering oil resources and border crossings.
This is the second time in recent months that direct talks have failed, following the breakdown of a similar round of negotiations in Paris over two months ago. French diplomatic sources told Al Arabiya that Paris remains committed to the negotiations' success and is now actively working to relocate the dialogue to an as-yet-unidentified Arab country. The French Foreign Ministry reportedly supports the negotiation process with the ultimate goal of integrating the SDF into the Syrian armed forces while ensuring Kurdish rights are constitutionally protected.
Beyond the immediate diplomatic spat over the US role, fundamental disagreements continue to plague the relationship. Each side accuses the other of failing to honor the terms of the March 10 accord. The AANES is determined to see the SDF retain a special status within the national army, a condition Damascus rejects. The most significant point of contention, however, relates to the future structure of the state. The Kurdish-led administration is demanding a decentralized system of governance. At the same time, the new Syrian authorities, which overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad last December, insist on maintaining a centralized state.