Media: What’s behind Syria’s President Al-Sharaa’s key visit to Türkiye?

Syria’s President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit Türkiye next week, with diplomatic talks in Ankara set to address the “normalisation” of relations and key issues that may shape the region's geopolitical future.

These talks come ahead of a potential historic meeting between President Al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump, raising questions about Türkiye's role in the evolving situation, Caliber.Az reports per Türkiye.

Al-Sharaa, who assumed office after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, has been pushing for an assertive diplomatic strategy. Following his upcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates, the Syrian president will head to Türkiye to engage in talks that, according to sources, will include discussions about the lifting of sanctions, economic cooperation, and Syria's reconstruction efforts.

These talks are seen as more than just a courtesy visit, with reports indicating that they are part of a broader strategy to shape Syria’s post-conflict future. Sources suggest that Al-Sharaa’s visit will help define Türkiye's position ahead of a planned meeting between the Syrian leader and Donald Trump, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acting as a mediator. The meeting is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia in the coming months.

According to Israeli media, the discussions will also involve sensitive topics, including the future of Syria, which may see the country divided into four zones under the control of major regional powers. These include a Turkish-controlled buffer zone in the north, a Russian-dominated coastal area in the west, an American-controlled energy corridor in the east, and an Israeli-secured security zone in the south.

The proposal, which has raised concerns in Damascus, is seen as a potential model for Syria’s fragmentation, with discussions in Ankara expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome. Turkish officials have voiced strong opposition to the plan, with high-ranking sources warning that such a scenario would pose a direct threat to Türkiye’s national security and stability along its southern borders.

By Aghakazim Guliyev