Syrian Transitional Government officials meet with SDF General Commander in Mazloum Abdi in Hasakah to discuss integration agreement

HASAKAH, North and East Syria — On Wednesday, officials of the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) met in Hasakah, North and East Syria, for the first time since the signing of an integration agreement between SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi and Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Daramsuq (Damascus) on 10 March.

Discussions focused on forming joint committees to begin work in April, ensuring inclusivity in drafting Syria’s future constitution, and achieving a nationwide ceasefire.

Integration Agreement

The agreement is designed to integrate the SDF into the national armed forces and transfer control of key infrastructure such as border crossings, airports, and oil and natural gas fields to the Syrian state.

Notably, the accord guarantees full constitutional rights for the Kurdish population while emphasizing the unity and indivisibility of Syrian territory. Although the agreement guarantees the rights of all Syrians to representation and participation in the political process and all state institutions, regardless of their religious and ethnic backgrounds, the agreement makes no explicit mention of other peoples in the agreement.

This point of the agreement if further complicated by the contentious Constitutional Declaration signed by al-Sharaa that stipulates the president of Syria can only be a Muslim.

National Implications

For the STG, the integration represents an opportunity to consolidate military control in a region that has been self-governing for over a decade. By absorbing the SDF into its command structure, the government aims to reassign military resources more effectively across the country. However, questions remain about whether the SDF will be merged as individual recruits into the national army or allowed to operate as a cohesive, albeit subordinate, bloc.

This uncertainty poses significant operational challenges, as the SDF’s experience with asymmetric warfare and coalition-based operations under a different command doctrine may not easily translate to the conventional structures of the Syrian military.

Control over northeastern Syria’s oil-rich fields and critical transportation networks is a vital aspect of the agreement. Securing these assets not only enhances the central government’s revenue base but also strengthens its geopolitical leverage. This economic dimension is seen as essential for Syria’s post-war reconstruction and for lifting international sanctions that have burdened the country for years.

Optimism and Caution Among Kurdish Leaders

For Kurdish leaders, the accord represents a tactical maneuver in a rapidly changing security environment. With speculations of a potential US troop withdrawal and evolving dynamics in Turkey regarding Kurdish groups, the integration offers a pathway for the SDF to secure its fighters under a national framework. Yet, the ambiguity surrounding the command structure and the risk of diluting Kurdish autonomy remain major points of contention.

Concerns of Minority Representation

While the agreement explicitly guarantees the rights of the Kurdish population, other groups have voiced serious concerns over their exclusion. The Syriac Union Party (SUP) has welcomed the move toward national unity but criticized the omission of provisions ensuring the rights and political representation of the Syriac–Assyrian–Aramean community. This omission has sparked calls for a more inclusive approach that reflects the country’s diverse ethnic and religious makeup.

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Regional and International Repercussions

The integration deal carries significant geopolitical weight beyond Syria’s borders. For Turkey, the agreement is a double-edged sword. While it potentially weakens the Kurdish autonomous project — long viewed by Ankara as a security threat — it also raises concerns about the future of SDF units that might retain operational autonomy within the national army.

International actors, including the United States and European Union, have linked financial and reconstruction commitments to conditions of inclusivity and political participation for all Syrian communities.

Implementation Challenges and Road Ahead

Despite the promising framework, the agreement is marked by significant ambiguities. Key questions remain regarding the mode of integration—whether the SDF will dissolve into existing army units or maintain a distinct identity within a restructured national force. A transitional committee has been established with a mandate to implement the provisions by the end of the year, yet the lengthy timeline leaves room for potential backtracking, internal resistance, and external interference.

The success of this ambitious integration will depend on the Syrian government’s ability to balance competing interests: consolidating state control while ensuring that all ethnic and religious groups feel more than superficially represented.

With ongoing debates about decentralization, revenue sharing, and minority rights, the coming months will be critical in determining whether this agreement becomes a cornerstone for lasting peace or merely a temporary ceasefire in an otherwise volatile landscape.