Kurdish Global News Update: February 14, 2026

MUNICH / ERBIL / QAMISHLI — Today’s Kurdish news landscape is marked by a high-stakes diplomatic "balancing act" in Germany and a historic, if painful, transition in Northeast Syria.

1. Munich Security Conference: Day 2 Highlights

The Kurdish delegation, led by KRI President Nechirvan Barzani, is currently in the thick of Day 2 negotiations at the Munich Security Conference.

• Meeting with Macron: Barzani met today with French President Emmanuel Macron. Sources report that the two emphasized the urgent need to safeguard Kurdish civil and cultural rights within the new Syrian constitutional framework.

• SDF’s "Productive" Talks: In a landmark moment, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi described his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as "positive and productive." Abdi also held a rare encounter with the Syrian Foreign Minister, signaling that the Jan 30 integration agreement is being treated as a high-priority international dossier.

• Azerbaijan Ties: Barzani also finalized talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to reopen a consulate in Erbil, signaling an expansion of the KRI's diplomatic reach despite regional instability.

2. Rojava: Integration Faces Criticism

While the UN Security Council officially welcomed the "comprehensive agreement" between Damascus and the SDF yesterday (Feb 13), the reality on the ground in Rojava remains tense.

• European Parliament Resolution: On Friday, the EU passed a resolution condemning reports of "atrocities" against Kurds following the Syrian offensive. Turkey has slammed this resolution as "ill-intentioned."

• Implementation Progress: Despite the diplomatic friction, integration continues. Syrian Ministry of Interior forces have begun deployments in Hasakah and Qamishli, and Kurdish educational certificates are reportedly being recognized by the central government for the first time.

• Humanitarian Strain: The UN warns that while hostilities have largely ended, the "existential threat" to Kurdish self-governance has left 175,000 people displaced, with deep concerns over the future of the women-led social revolution.

3. Iraqi Kurdistan: Presidency Deadlock

In Erbil and Baghdad, the political process remains frozen.

• KDP-PUK Impasse: A highly anticipated meeting on Feb 11 failed to break the deadlock over the Iraqi Presidency.

• Military Representation: Both parties have united on one front, however, calling for the appointment of a Kurdish Chief of Staff for the Iraqi Armed Forces to address the lack of Kurdish representation in senior federal security roles.

4. Diaspora: Protests in Bristol & Brussels

The Kurdish diaspora continues to mobilize against what many call "The Great Betrayal."

• Bristol Rally: Hundreds gathered on College Green this week, carrying placards reading "2+2=1" (symbolizing the unity of the four parts of Kurdistan).

• Brussels Action: Protesters marched to the European Parliament, demanding the release of Abdullah Öcalan and expressing deep skepticism over the SDF-Damascus deal, which they fear lacks constitutional safeguards for the Kurdish people.

Daily Snapshot

Region	Status	Key Event
Germany	Negotiating	Barzani & Abdi meet global leaders at Munich Summit.
Syria	Integrating	UN welcomes ceasefire; Syrian forces enter Hasakah.
Iraq	Stalled	KDP and PUK remain divided over Iraqi Presidency.
Iran	Repression	257 Kurdish protesters confirmed killed in recent crackdowns.