Syrian, Kurdish and U.S. representatives are racing against time to find common ground on a long-stalled agreement aimed at bringing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the formal structure of the Syrian state before a year-end deadline expires, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
Negotiations have intensified in recent days after months of slow progress, with officials from Damascus, the U.S., and the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria all seeking to show movement on the pact. However, several sources involved in the talks caution that a significant breakthrough — one that completes the full integration envisioned earlier this year — remains unlikely before December 31.
The push for a deal stems from an agreement signed on March 10, under which the eastern Kurdish authorities and the Syrian interim government committed to integrating the SDF — a force that played a central role alongside the United States in defeating ISIS — into the national army and state institutions. However, key issues have persisted throughout the year, especially over command structures and territorial control in northeast Syria.
Damascus recently presented a proposal to the SDF leadership that would see roughly 50,000 fighters reorganised into three main divisions and smaller brigades, alongside some concessions on command authority and opening Kurdish-held areas to Syrian army units. Despite this, several officials described the plan as primarily intended to extend negotiations and preserve stability rather than finalise the full integration.
Turkish authorities have added pressure to the process, with officials warning that patience is wearing thin over delays in implementing the agreement and urging peaceful talks. Ankara, which views the Kurdish forces as a security threat, has repeatedly said it does not want renewed conflict but has stressed the need for swift progress.
Kurdish representatives have downplayed the importance of the year-end target, arguing that ensuring a fair and sustainable integration is more important than meeting the deadline. Some have suggested that addressing all outstanding concerns could take until mid-2026, highlighting the challenge of reconciling competing priorities in a region still recovering from more than a decade of conflict.
The outcome of these final talks will have major implications for the future of northeastern Syria, where the SDF controls much of the country’s oil and wheat resources. A failure to forge a durable integration could risk renewed clashes, further instability, and complicate Syria’s fragile post-war recovery.
