Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi met Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on 9 July, with U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack attending. The talks revisited a U.S.–brokered memorandum signed in March that aims to fold the Kurdish-led autonomous administration into state structures and bring SDF fighters under Syrian military command. Following the meeting, Damascus reaffirmed its stance against federalism, declaring “One Syria, One Army, One Government,” and invited Kurdish forces to enlist in the national army. Barrack echoed the message in separate media appearances, saying “the only future path for the SDF is Damascus” and stressing that Washington would not back an independent YPG-oriented state. Barrack’s comments, widely reported between 10 and 14 July, included portraying the SDF as equivalent to the YPG and, at times, a derivative of the outlawed PKK, although he later told Anadolu Agency the groups could have distanced themselves. The mixed signals have unsettled Kurdish officials who continue to press for a decentralised model, while Syrian authorities warn that prolonged haggling over integration risks undermining efforts to stabilise the country after 14 years of war.