Syria’s New Chapter: Integration and Reconstruction

Thursday, October 23, 2025

11.00am – 12.00pm  

As Damascus seeks to consolidate national stability, Syria is holding its first parliamentary elections, signaling a new chapter in its political reconstruction. Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara’s recent visit to Moscow highlights the strategic dimension of Damascus’s efforts to secure regional and international support for its stabilization process. However, recent clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government in the country’s north and northeast have underscored the fragility of this emerging stability. A ceasefire was reached after talks between the Syrian Defense Ministry and SDF representatives in Damascus. The confrontation has cast uncertainty over the March agreement between the US-backed SDF and Damascus, which sought to integrate regional forces into state institutions and promote national cohesion after 14 years of conflict. As Syria seeks to rebuild its political and territorial unity, questions arise about the SDF’s future relationship with the central government, and the potential roles of the United States and Türkiye in supporting long-term stability.

The SETA Foundation at Washington D.C. is pleased to host a timely panel discussion examining these critical issues. The discussion will explore the implications of the latest ceasefire, the prospects for integrating the SDF into Syria’s national framework, and the future of Syria’s political reconstruction and state consolidation efforts.

Speakers 

Omer Ozkizilcik, Nonresident Fellow for the Syria Project, The Atlantic Council

Hassan Hassan, Founder and Editor in Chief, New Lines Magazine

Dareen Khalifa, Senior Adviser, International Crisis Group

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC