Syrian and US foreign ministers meet in Munich to discuss Kurdish integration agreement

Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on February 13, 2026. The meeting focused on the recent integration agreement between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). According to official statements, the United States expressed its support for the deal, which aims to incorporate Kurdish military and administrative structures into the Syrian state. The discussions were attended by SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi and Kurdish official Ilham Ahmed, as confirmed by photographs released by the US State Department. This agreement follows the transition of power in Damascus in late 2024 and months of negotiations to resolve the status of the autonomous region in northeastern Syria. Additionally, the meeting coincided with the appointment of a Kurdish governor to the Hasakah province by the central government. Both parties emphasized the importance of maintaining Syria's national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The talks represent a significant shift in diplomatic relations following the end of the long-standing conflict between 2011 and 2024.