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More than 35 political groups affiliated with the SDF issued a strong condemnation of recent comments by U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack.
The statement, signed by more than 35 parties active in northeastern Syria, rejected Barrack's remarks opposing federalism and accused him of "overstepping his role as mediator." Barrack serves as both the U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and the special envoy for Syria.
The backlash followed Barrack's statement that the terrorist group YPG-led SDF's only viable path is reconciliation with Damascus and that federalism is "not a workable model" for Syria.
Recently speaking to the Erbil-based Rudaw television channel, Barrack emphasized the need for consolidated government structures. "We all need to reconcile and come to this conclusion: One nation, one people, one army, one Syria," he said.
Drawing on experiences in both Iraq and Syria, Barrack argued that federal systems have failed to provide stable governance. "The problem is that we have seen that federalism does not work in all these countries (Iraq and Syria) and that an independent state cannot be established within a state," he said.
Barrack warned that time was running out for political solutions in the region. "The world is moving fast, the region is moving very fast. Look at what happened in the last three weeks, it's incredible," he said.
The joint statement said Barrack’s words "contradict his role as a mediator to bridge viewpoints and are inconsistent with the positive role played by the United States in achieving security and stability in Syria."
In their statement, the groups criticized calls for reintegration into Syria’s state structures, rejecting "superficial calls" to join institutions they claim have not undergone "genuine political reform."
The statement defended the "Democratic Autonomous Administration" project developed under SDF control in northeast Syria, framing it as a local governance model encompassing multiple ethnic and religious groups.
The SDF and its affiliates have occupied large areas of territory in Syria, often with backing from the U.S.-led international coalition. SDF is dominated by the YPG terrorist group, which is considered the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S., EU, and Türkiye.
Activists and political commentators from YPG-affiliated circles accused Barrack of favoring Turkish positions. Several pointed to his dual diplomatic roles as evidence of a conflict of interest.
"The Paul Bremer experience cannot be reproduced in Syria," said Rami Abdul Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "If you are truly committed to the country's stability and unity, your role should be that of an honest mediator, not a party obstructing agreements between Syrians."
An analyst named Shorsh Darwish noted that while Barrack's statements "weren't new, they reflected a problematic approach," by stating: "Tom Barrack's words are very obvious to the Kurds of Syria, who have said since the 1950s that their issue would be resolved in Damascus and with Damascus."
Former US advisor Dr. Walid Phares responded directly on social media: "Federalism works in America, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Iraq, and the Emirates ... and it will work in Syria and Lebanon as well."
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