Syrian foreign ministry criticises lack of progress in talks with SDF

A senior official from Syria’s Foreign Ministry has expressed frustration over the ongoing talks between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), accusing the group of failing to take concrete steps toward national integration.

The official told SANA on December 26, said that despite repeated statements from the SDF about their commitment to Syria’s unity, there has been no meaningful progress in integrating the SDF-controlled northeastern regions into the broader Syrian state, Caliber.Az reports. 

The official emphasised that discussions about merging the SDF’s military, security, and administrative institutions with those of the state had remained largely theoretical, with no clear timeline or concrete actions taken to implement the March 10 agreement, which was meant to resolve the ongoing division in the country. The official described the current dialogue as little more than media positioning aimed at deflecting political pressure, rather than a serious effort to move toward national cohesion.

He added that despite SDF statements regarding ongoing dialogue with the Syrian state, the discussions have produced no tangible results. 

The Syrian official also criticised the SDF’s continued control over critical areas such as border crossings and oil resources, calling it a violation of Syria’s sovereignty. The SDF’s control over these strategic assets, the official said, is being used as a bargaining tool in negotiations, further hindering the prospects for a unified and stable Syria.

On the issue of oil, the official dismissed SDF claims that the country’s oil wealth should be shared by all Syrians, pointing out that the revenues generated from these resources are not being integrated into the national budget or managed through state institutions.

The Foreign Ministry source also voiced concerns over the potential long-term consequences of decentralisation proposals being put forward by the SDF.

The official warned that such proposals go beyond administrative reforms and could lead to political and security decentralisation, effectively weakening Syria’s unity and further entrenching the division of the country.

By Sabina Mammadli