Macron Emphasizes Support for Syria’s Sovereignty, Urges Progress in SDF-Talks During Call with Syrian President
According to France 24, Paris will host talks between Syria, France, and the United States "as soon as possible" to facilitate the integration of the autonomous Kurdish administration into the Syrian state.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during a phone call on Saturday with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, while stressing the need for sincere negotiations between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus.
Macron, in a post on X, wrote, it was “essential” that talks between the SDF and Syrian authorities move forward in good faith, adding that trilateral discussions held a day earlier had helped outline the next steps for engagement.
The French leader also noted that his country remains committed to supporting efforts to stabilize the Syrian-Lebanese border, particularly in the context of ongoing regional tensions. Both leaders reportedly discussed recent contacts with Israel and expressed support for enhanced cooperation to maintain border security.
Macron praised President Al-Sharaa’s commitment to combating terrorism and underscored the importance of continued joint efforts in counterterrorism operations. He reaffirmed France’s readiness to support such initiatives as part of a broader push for regional stability.
Je me suis entretenu avec le Président intérimaire syrien Al-Charaa.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 26, 2025
Les récentes violences en Syrie rappellent l’extrême fragilité de la transition. Les populations civiles doivent être protégées.
Il est impératif d’éviter…
Paris to Host New Round of SDF-Damascus Talks
According to France 24, Paris will host talks between Syria, France, and the United States "as soon as possible" to facilitate the integration of the autonomous Kurdish administration into the Syrian state. The Kurds, who control large swathes of northeast Syria, are engaged in negotiations with Damascus to incorporate their civil and military institutions—most notably the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces—into the national framework.
A joint statement released after a Friday meeting in Paris between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, and Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, confirmed the commitment to convene the next round of consultations “as soon as possible.” The talks will focus on fully implementing the March 10 agreement signed by SDF commander Mazloum Abdi and interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, which aims to unify the Kurdish-led institutions under the authority of the central government.
Despite several rounds of negotiations, progress has been limited. Kurdish officials have expressed concern that a recently announced constitutional declaration by the new Syrian authorities fails to reflect the country’s ethnic and sectarian diversity. The Islamist leadership in Damascus, which took power following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December, has rejected decentralization and continues to demand full disarmament of Kurdish forces.
A planned meeting in Paris between Kurdish representatives and a Syrian government delegation was postponed on Thursday. However, Barrot spoke with SDF leader Abdi on Friday to confirm the upcoming negotiations.
While Damascus insists on complete reunification and control, SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami recently told Al-Yaum TV that disarmament is a “red line,” adding, “No one is surrendering in Syria. Those betting on our capitulation will lose.”
The joint statement emphasized the importance of ensuring the success of Syria’s political transition and highlighted the need for reconciliation and national cohesion, particularly in northeastern Syria and the southern Druze region of Sweida, which recently witnessed deadly sectarian violence.
