Panorama 2025: Diplomacy of North and East Syria

The year 2025 saw intense diplomatic and political activity at both the internal and external levels, during which the viewpoint of the Autonomous Administration on the Syrian situation was conveyed. The most prominent events during 2025 were as follows:

January

January 13: Dr. Hamid Darbandi, representative of the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, conveyed a message from Masoud Barzani to the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, stressing the importance of Kurdish unity.

January 14: Officials from the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) met with British officials to discuss political solutions and stability in Syria.

January 17: Officials from the Autonomous Administration and the SDC met with academics and politicians in London to discuss Syria’s future after the fall of the Baathist regime.

January 27: A joint European–French delegation visited the Autonomous Administration and reviewed the conditions of the region and the experience of Autonomous Administration.

January 28: The Syrian Democratic Council met with the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, in Suwayda, discussing the building of a democratic civil state based on equal citizenship.

January 29: A representative of the Syrian Democratic Council participated in a meeting with the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, in Damascus, discussing current developments in Syria and warning against renewed violence and civil strife.

January 29: The Syrian Democratic Council met with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Swedish Embassy, Jessica Svärdström, in Damascus, to discuss political challenges in Syria and the importance of EU support for a comprehensive political transition ensuring stability and representation of all components.

February

February 25: A British delegation visited the Autonomous Administration, discussing the political situation in Syria, the importance of decentralized governance, and the protection of the rights of all ethnic and religious components.

February 28: An Austrian delegation headed by Günter Rissner, Deputy Head of the Security Affairs Department at the Austrian Foreign Ministry, visited North and East Syria. Discussions covered the political, security, and humanitarian situation, national dialogue, and the handover of two women and three children holding Austrian nationality from ISIS families.

March

March 10: The General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces signed an agreement with the transitional government in Damascus, providing for the integration of the SDF and the institutions of the Autonomous Administration into Syrian state institutions, recognition of Kurdish national rights, the return of displaced persons to their homes, and other points.

March 20: The Syrian Democratic Council met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Damascus to assess the situation, the transitional process in Syria, the Kurdish issue, and the implementation of the March 10 agreement.

March 22: The Syrian Democratic Council participated in the first conference of the “Syrian Equal Citizenship Alliance – Tamasuk,” held in Damascus.

April

April 1: Based on the March 10 agreement, the Civil Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in Aleppo reached a 14-point agreement with the transitional government aimed at strengthening coexistence and civil peace and organizing internal security.

April 3: British Health Secretary Wes Streeting met with a delegation of Kurdish doctors from North and East Syria, discussing the state of the health sector and challenges resulting from Syria’s political and security conditions.

April 14: An official delegation including European and British parliamentarians and members of the House of Lords from the Labour Party visited North and East Syria, discussing Kurdish–Kurdish dialogue mechanisms and negotiations with Damascus.

April 15: A British delegation headed by Mary Shockledge, Deputy Head of the UK Syria Office, and Niamh Connolly, Second Secretary for Political Affairs, visited the region, discussing negotiations with Damascus, humanitarian and security challenges, and counter-ISIS efforts. One woman and three British children from ISIS families were handed over.

April 16–17: Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the Autonomous Administration’s Department of Foreign Relations, participated in the Sulaymaniyah Forum, emphasizing that Syria’s future cannot be built on the former centralized system and that decentralization is the solution.

April 19: Nadine Maenza, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, visited the region and discussed the overall situation in Syria, the March 10 agreement, and challenges facing the Autonomous Administration.

April 19: A German delegation headed by Margarethe Jakob, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Damascus, visited the Autonomous Administration to discuss the political situation, its governance experience, negotiations with Damascus, and integration of administrative structures.

April 20: A delegation from the Autonomous Administration met with the Governor of Aleppo to discuss the issue of Afrin’s displaced persons and implementation of the Sheikh Maqsoud–Ashrafieh agreement.

April 23: SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmed met French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Erbil, focusing on supporting political and security stability and enhancing dialogue among Syrian parties.

April 24: Ilham Ahmed and Mazloum Abdi met Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil to discuss developments in Syria, relations with Damascus, and threats posed by terrorism and ISIS.

April 25: Delegations from the Democratic Regions Party (BDP) and the Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) visited the Autonomous Administration in preparation for the Kurdish unity conference.

April 26: The “Unity of Kurdish Ranks and Position in Rojava Kurdistan” conference was held in Qamishli, discussing Syria’s post-Baathist situation and affirming a joint Kurdish political vision within a democratic, decentralized Syria that protects women’s and minority rights.

April 30: An official German delegation headed by Christian Klein, Head of the Consular and Legal Affairs Department at the German Foreign Ministry, visited the region, discussing negotiations with Damascus and counter-ISIS efforts, and received one woman and four German children from ISIS families.

May

May 4: A church delegation including Franciscan Maryamite nuns and Syrian church representatives visited the region, discussing religious freedom, women’s roles, and protection of all components.

May 8: A delegation from the Kurdistan–France Friendship Association visited the Autonomous Administration, focusing on women’s roles in shaping the social contract.

May 19: The SDC’s Cairo office organized a dialogue seminar with Arab women, academics, and journalists on the marginalization of Syrian women and Islamist violence against them.

May 31: A European Parliament delegation headed by Martin Schirdewan visited the region, discussing governance experience, women’s roles, negotiations with Damascus, and lifting economic sanctions.

June

June 4: The joint Kurdish delegation formed after the unity conference held its founding meeting.

July

July 25: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot met Mazloum Abdi in Paris, with participation from Syrian Transitional Government Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack, reaffirming support for a negotiated political solution.

August

August 1: A delegation from the Yazidi Union of Syria in Europe visited the region, emphasizing religious freedom and coexistence.

August 5: A British delegation visited the region and received a British child from ISIS families.

August 8: The “Unity of Position of North and East Syria Components” conference was held in Hasakah, calling for a democratic constitution and decentralized state.

August 11: An official Tanzanian delegation visited the region, discussing counter-terrorism efforts and receiving three children and a woman from ISIS families.

August 24: A Brazilian delegation visited the Autonomous Administration, discussing political developments and receiving one woman and a child from ISIS families.

August 25: A meeting in Amman gathered Mazloum Abdi, Ilham Ahmed, U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and Congressman Joe Wilson to push implementation of the March 10 agreement.

September

September 4: Mazloum Abdi received U.S. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper to discuss dialogue with Damascus.

September 11: The SDC’s UK office organized a parliamentary seminar on security challenges and governance.

September 25: A South African delegation visited the region, discussing implementation of the March 10 agreement and receiving five women and twelve children from ISIS families.

September 21–22: The SDC participated in a conference on comprehensive political transition in Amman.

September 26: On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the SDC held meetings with representatives from Saudi Arabia, Norway, France, and Japan on peace and security from a gender perspective.

September 28: The SDC participated in the UK Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

September 29: An SDC delegation met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey to discuss support for peace and reconstruction in Syria.

October

October 6: The Autonomous Administration and SDF received U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and Admiral Brad Cooper to discuss implementation of the March 10 agreement and counter-ISIS cooperation.

October 7: Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmed met Transitional Government President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani.

October 8: The Autonomous Administration’s representative in North Africa met Uganda’s Vice President Edward Ssekandi.

October 11: The SDC participated in a political workshop in Berlin with German and EU officials.

October 12: The SDC’s Washington office participated in the annual conference on human rights and religious freedom at George Mason University.

October 13: A military and security delegation from North and East Syria met officials from the Ministries of Defense and Interior of the transitional government.

October 20: An SDF military committee met a Damascus delegation in Tabqa to discuss tensions around Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh.

October 27: The SDC held meetings in Stockholm with Swedish parties and researchers.

October 28: A delegation of Kurdish European organizations visited the region to strengthen cooperation networks.

November

November 2: The SDC held political meetings in Sweden on Syria’s political process.

November 2–4: The SDC met Syrian and Kurdish communities in several Swedish cities.

November 6: Kurdish politician Osman Baydemir visited the region.

November 19: Masoud Barzani received Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmed in the Kurdistan Region.

November 19: Mazloum Abdi participated in the Middle East Peace and Security Forum (MEPS 2025) in Duhok.

November 25: A Spanish delegation visited the region and received one woman and a child from ISIS families.

December

December 6: Ilham Ahmed participated via video in the International Conference on Peace and Democratic Society in Istanbul, expressing readiness for direct dialogue with Turkey on peace, democracy, and stability.

ANHA