Syria's new leader set for historic first visit to Türkiye

Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is set to make his first foreign visit to Türkiye in the near future.

The visit was initially planned for the coming days but was postponed due to changes in the schedule, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

During the visit, al-Sharaa is expected to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whom, the leader of Syria's new authorities, intends to thank for supporting the Syrian revolution.

To recap, the first foreign official to visit Damascus after the opposition took power in Syria was Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın. Following him, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also visited the Syrian capital.

One of the key agenda items for the visit is the presence of the terrorist organization PKK/YPG in Syria.

Both Turkish and Syrian authorities are determined to rid the region of terrorism. It is expected that during the visit, al-Sharaa will reaffirm this resolve and assess the latest developments in the region.

Meanwhile, on January 8, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has reiterated Türkiye's commitment to Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Fidan highlighted the threat posed by terrorist organizations, particularly the PKK/YPG, which have seized control of parts of Syria, including oil-rich regions.

Türkiye has warned that military action will be taken if necessary to combat these groups. Fidan also emphasized the new Syrian administration's responsibility to address the PKK/YPG and expel foreign mercenaries.

He made it clear that Türkiye is ready to neutralize any terrorist threats from ISIS or other groups, reinforcing its position against terrorism while aiming to protect Syria’s territorial unity.

By Aghakazim Guliyev