SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi met with both Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot during his diplomatic visit to Erbil, focusing on regional stability, Kurdish unity, and international support for northeastern Syria.
High-Level Diplomatic Engagements
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi arrived in Erbil for significant diplomatic meetings amid ongoing efforts to secure international support for the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. His visit coincided with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s diplomatic mission to Iraq and Kurdistan Region, creating an opportunity for trilateral discussions on Syria’s future.
The French minister had first traveled to Baghdad for meetings with Iraqi officials before continuing to the Kurdistan Region, where he held separate talks with KDP President Masoud Barzani, PUK President Bafel Talabani, and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani. During a press conference at the Kurdistan Region Presidency headquarters, Barrot announced his scheduled meeting with Commander Abdi, highlighting France’s continued diplomatic engagement with Kurdish entities across borders.
Strategic Discussions on Regional Security
The late-night meeting between Abdi and Barrot centered on promoting stability in northern and eastern Syria, enhancing dialogue between Syrian parties, and defining France’s role in supporting political resolution efforts. According to diplomatic sources, France has previously expressed support for negotiations between the SDF and Damascus government, viewing such dialogue as essential for a peaceful resolution that would preserve Syria’s territorial integrity while protecting Kurdish rights.
In his separate meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Commander Abdi discussed recent developments in Syria, particularly focusing on relations between Kurdish political forces and the Syrian government. The Kurdistan Regional Presidency’s statement emphasized that both leaders exchanged views on terrorism threats and counter-ISIS operations, agreeing on “the importance of Kurdish participation and all Syrian components in governance.”
Building Kurdish Unity for Regional Stability
A key theme emerging from both meetings was the critical importance of Kurdish unity. Barzani and Abdi specifically highlighted unity among Kurdish forces in Syria as “necessary” and “a guarantee for achieving legitimate rights and demands of the Kurdish people” in the country.
The Al-Hol camp situation and the international coalition’s ongoing role in Syria were also addressed during these diplomatic exchanges. The meetings reflect the Autonomous Administration’s continuing diplomatic initiatives to secure international backing and strengthen its position in Syrian political negotiations.
This convergence of Kurdish and international diplomacy in Erbil underscores the Kurdistan Region’s growing role as a diplomatic hub for addressing complex regional challenges, particularly those affecting Kurdish populations across borders. As Commander Abdi continues his international outreach, these meetings may prove crucial for determining the future political landscape of northeastern Syria and Kurdish political aspirations in the region.
