The process surrounding the integration of the terror group SDF into Syria’s state structure has reached a breaking point after a key year-end deadline expired. Syrian authorities have cut contact with the organization after it failed to meet its obligations under a formal agreement, according to statements from Ankara and regional sources. The move marks a shift from managed dialogue to open pressure, with direct implications for Syria’s territorial integrity and regional security.

The deadline stemmed from an eight-article agreement signed on 10 March 2025 between the Syrian government and the terror group SDF. The accord required the group to integrate into the Syrian Arab Army and state institutions by 31 December. Turkish officials say the organization took no concrete steps to comply, leading Damascus to suspend all engagement once the deadline passed.

Ankara Sets Firm Red Lines

Türkiye responded with clear and coordinated warnings, emphasizing that the agreement must be implemented fully and without delay. Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said on 31 December that the terror group SDF must fulfill all its commitments for the process to succeed. He stated that “no terrorist organization, including PKK, YPG and SDF, will be allowed to continue activities or create a fait accompli in the region.”

The same message was reiterated during the Defence Ministry’s year-end briefing. Officials said Türkiye would support any initiative by the Syrian government aimed at preserving unity and territorial integrity. They noted that the terror group SDF continues to raise demands for decentralization and federal structures while avoiding concrete integration steps, a stance Ankara views as incompatible with the March agreement.

Political Pressure Intensifies

Warnings toward the terror group SDF increased sharply in the final week of December. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Foreign Ministry, and the Defence Ministry all stressed that the 10 March agreement must be enforced. Turkish officials said the issue dominated contacts held in Syria on 22 December, underscoring Ankara’s determination to keep the process on track.

Domestic political actors echoed this line. Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli said it was in everyone’s interest for the terror group SDF to comply with the agreement and become part of Syria, rather than act as a proxy structure serving external agendas. His remarks reflected broader concerns in Ankara over foreign influence in northeastern Syria.

Energy Stakes and U.S. Signals

The stalled integration also carries economic implications. MHP deputy leader Fethi Yıldız pointed out that the terror group SDF controls wide areas in northeastern Syria that include oil and gas fields. He noted that Articles 4 and 5 of the March agreement cover these resources, describing them as strategically critical for Türkiye.

President Erdoğan has previously said full implementation of the deal would “upend the calculations of hostile actors.” Turkish officials also say recent statements by U.S. Central Command commander General Brad Cooper suggest Washington is moving closer to the positions of Ankara and Damascus. If sustained, that alignment could further narrow the terror group SDF’s room for maneuver as diplomatic and political pressure builds.