Washington: The United States has expressed approval of Syria’s decision to incorporate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into its state institutions, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape.
A deal announced by the Syrian presidency and the SDF grants the central government full authority over the semi-autonomous region that the Kurdish-led alliance has governed since 2015. The agreement covers military and civil institutions, including key infrastructure such as oil fields and an airport.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Tuesday reaffirming Washington’s commitment to a political transition that promotes non-sectarian governance. “The United States reaffirms its support for a political transition that demonstrates credible, non-sectarian governance as the best path to avoid further conflict,” Rubio stated, while also expressing concern over recent violence targeting minority groups.
The accord, reached between Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, comes at a crucial moment as Damascus faces instability following a surge in violence in Alawite strongholds last week. The deal includes a nationwide ceasefire, cooperation between the SDF and government forces to counter pro-Assad fighters, and formal recognition of Kurdish citizenship and constitutional rights.
Since the overthrow of longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, discussions had been underway regarding the integration of the SDF into the state. However, progress was hindered by skepticism over the group’s commitment to opposing the former regime.
The United States has long supported the SDF in the fight against ISIL (ISIS), contributing to the defeat of the armed group’s territorial hold in Syria in 2019. However, Washington’s backing of the SDF has been a point of contention with Turkiye, which regards the group as affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an organization Ankara classifies as a terrorist entity.
