France, US keep up efforts to bridge SDF and Damascus

By Saad al-Yaziji

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday it continues, alongside its US partners, to hold discussions with representatives of North and East Syria and the Syrian transitional government, aiming to narrow differences between the two sides.

In a briefing on the progress of negotiations between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government, published on the ministry’s official platforms, France said the two parties “continue the negotiation process with coordinated support from France and the United States.”

The ministry stressed that Paris remains committed to sustained diplomatic engagement to achieve “a peaceful transitional process that allows for the reconstruction of a free, united, sovereign, and stable Syria that represents all, and is fully integrated in its regional environment.”

According to the French statement, the integration of the SDF into the Syrian army remains a central issue for ensuring the stability of Syria and the wider region, as well as in combating terrorism. The ministry noted that “significant work has already been accomplished on both sides of the Euphrates River” toward this objective.

France has maintained a longstanding diplomatic and military role in the Global Coalition against ISIS, working closely with the SDF in northeastern Syria. The United States has also repeatedly expressed support for a political solution that includes the AANES within a unified Syrian framework.

No comment was immediately available from Syrian government officials on the latest French statement. However, sources close to the negotiation process told North Press that discussions are expected to continue in the coming weeks with a focus on security arrangements and administrative coordination.