Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Commander Mazloum Abdi arrived in Paris on Wednesday for high-stakes negotiations with a Syrian government delegation, mediated by France and the United States. The talks, hosted under French President Emmanuel Macron’s auspices, aim to finalize the integration of the SDF into Syria’s state structure while addressing lingering disputes over autonomy and security arrangements.

The discussions, attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shaibani and U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack, follow a March 10 agreement between transitional Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and Abdi, which pledged to merge SDF-held border posts, oil fields, and military institutions into Syria’s national administration by the end of 2025. However, progress has stalled, prompting U.S. frustration.

Barrack publicly criticized the SDF’s slow implementation, reiterating Washington’s opposition to federalism in Syria and urging faster unification. Meanwhile, SDF Media Director Farhad Shami reaffirmed their stance: “Surrendering weapons is a red line for us… we will negotiate as a partner, not as a subordinate.”

The talks unfold against escalating regional tensions. On July 22, Turkey issued a sharp warning against Kurdish autonomy efforts, backing al-Sharaa’s government while threatening intervention if divisions deepen—a clear signal of Ankara’s alignment with Damascus and its hostility toward the SDF’s YPG-linked factions.

Meanwhile, sectarian violence in Sweida has further destabilized Syria’s political landscape. Clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribes recently triggered Israeli airstrikes and prompted Damascus to seek Turkish military assistance, raising questions about the transitional government’s control over minority regions.

As part of a phased withdrawal tied to the SDF’s integration, the U.S. has reduced its military footprint in northeast Syria—cutting bases from eight to three and troop levels from 2,000 to under 1,000. American and Syrian forces are now coordinating to secure former SDF-run detention centers amid fears of an ISIS resurgence.

Critical obstacles remain, including:

The future of the YPG within the SDF.
The status of foreign fighters in Syria’s reformed army.
Whether any form of decentralization will be permitted—a notion Damascus rejects, insisting on “one nation, one army.”