Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa praises Türkiye’s role in regional, global affairs

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa praised Türkiye’s role in regional and global politics, noting that the partnership between Damascus and Ankara is a foundation on which much can be built.

He made the remarks in an interview with Anadolu Agency, on the sidelines of he 5th Diplomacy Forum.

Ahmed al-Sharaa said that Syria and Türkiye, which serve as a bridge between East and West, offer enormous opportunities for regional connectivity.

“Türkiye stood by the Syrian revolution. It took the side of the oppressed Syrian people. There are ancient historical ties and geographical proximity between us,” he noted.

The Syrian president made it clear that the country has “moved from crisis to a historic opportunity” for stabilisation and reconstruction.

He also said the last foreign military base has been withdrawn from northeastern Syria, and that the integration of the “SDF” (Syrian Democratic Forces — described as a PKK-affiliated terrorist organisation — ed.) represents an important stage in domestic political settlement.

Commenting on negotiations with Israel, al-Sharaa mentioned that dialogue is ongoing but is proceeding “with great difficulty” due to continuing disagreements, including over the presence of Israeli forces on Syrian territory.

He also highlighted prospects for economic cooperation, including initiatives to establish a platform for exporting goods via Syrian ports, the development of the “Four Seas” project, and work on creating a free trade zone between Syria and Türkiye.

The Syrian leader also said cooperation with Ukraine is being discussed in the areas of logistics and food supply.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov