Ankara, Washington to discuss Syria strategy, sanctions, security cooperation

Türkiye and the United States are set to hold a high-level meeting of their joint working group on Syria in Washington on May 20, Turkish diplomatic sources confirmed.

The bilateral talks, convened in an inter-institutional format, will be co-chaired by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

The agenda is expected to center on both nations’ evolving policies on Syria, with an emphasis on enhancing cooperation aimed at fostering security, stability, and territorial integrity in the war-torn country. Discussions will include the ongoing fight against ISIS (Daesh) and other terrorist organizations, which Ankara and Washington continue to regard as a shared priority.

According to Turkish officials, the meeting will also address Türkiye’s regional security initiatives and its support for the Syrian government’s stabilization efforts. Ankara is anticipated to underscore its commitment to eliminating all terrorist elements within Syria’s borders through multidimensional coordination with the United States, encompassing political, economic, and military cooperation.

One of the key topics on the agenda will be humanitarian and security challenges in northeastern Syria, particularly those arising in displacement camps. Both parties are expected to explore potential avenues for joint action in managing these complex environments. The US delegation is also likely to brief their Turkish counterparts on the ongoing restructuring and consolidation of US military deployments in Syria.

This meeting follows recent high-level contact between Washington and Damascus and comes on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s announcement of the lifting of sanctions against Syria — a significant shift in American policy. In light of this development, the working group will also deliberate on the procedural framework and timeline for the sanctions relief process.

Deputy Minister Yilmaz is expected to reiterate Türkiye’s stance that preserving Syria’s territorial unity remains essential for long-term regional peace and security. He will emphasize Ankara’s vision of a stable Syria free from terrorist influence, aligned with international law and regional cooperation frameworks.

The meeting signals renewed momentum in Türkiye-US diplomatic engagement over Syria and reflects a mutual interest in reconfiguring their strategic partnership to address enduring threats and support a sustainable political resolution in the country.

By Vafa Guliyeva