Ankara’s senior delegation arrives in Damascus to strengthen ties, counter terrorism

In a previously unannounced visit, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalın arrived in Damascus for high-level talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and senior Syrian officials.

The meetings are expected to provide a comprehensive assessment of Türkiye-Syria relations over the past year, spanning political, economic, and security dimensions, following the first anniversary of the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Caliber.Az reports, citing Syrian media. 

A key focus will be the progress of implementing the March 10 agreement, which aligns closely with Türkiye’s national security priorities. Turkish media report that Damascus has set a year-end deadline for the US-backed YPG to honor the agreement, which involves integrating the group into the Syrian army.

According to multiple sources, the interim Syrian government has proposed that the YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK controlling northeast Syria, reorganize its roughly 50,000 members into three main divisions and smaller brigades, while ceding some command authority and opening its territory to Syrian army units.

Fidan emphasized last week that Türkiye prefers not to use military force but warned that patience with the YPG is “running out.” YPG officials, meanwhile, have downplayed the deadline, affirming their commitment to negotiations for “a just integration.”

The Turkish delegation is also expected to address emerging security risks in southern Syria linked to Israel’s actions and explore cooperation on counterterrorism efforts, particularly in light of Syria’s recent accession to the International Coalition to Defeat Daesh (ICDC). Preventing a resurgence of Daesh, which seeks to exploit vulnerabilities on the ground, will be a priority.

In addition to security matters, the talks will review bilateral reconstruction projects and evaluate ongoing initiatives to strengthen the Syrian government’s institutional and operational capacities.

By Vafa Guliyeva