THE SDF-DAMASCUS AGREEMENT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN SYRIA AND THE REGION - The Atlantic Council will convenes experts to examine the implications of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) recent integration agreement with Syria’s interim government for governance, security, and regional stability in northeast Syria.

On January 19, 2026, the SDF agreed to cede military, administrative, and territorial control across much of the northeast following battlefield setbacks and mounting pressure from Damascus. Syrian and US officials have framed the agreement as a step toward national unity and state consolidation, while Kurdish actors and protesters have characterized it as a coerced surrender that risks renewed repression and centralization.

This virtual panel will assess whether the agreement offers a viable framework for reintegration or signals deeper challenges ahead for Kurdish self-governance, US engagement, and post-conflict stability in Syria.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 01/27/2026