Turkish FM: Syria not ready for normalization talks

Recent developments indicate ongoing tensions and challenges regarding the normalization of relations between Türkiye and Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced that Syria is currently not prepared for normalization, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

He emphasized that the Syrian administration seems reluctant to engage in discussions about the process.

Fidan stated, “Our president [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] made an important proposal on this matter. However, the Syrian side appears unprepared for this.”

Fidan further assessed that Bashar al-Assad's government is "not even ready for talks with the opposition," clarifying that addressing issues with the opposition is not a precondition for Türkiye’s normalization with Damascus. He also expressed openness to potential dialogue between Russia and the new American administration regarding Syria, remarking that he does not consider such discussions impossible. “The main thing for us is to be prepared for any scenario,” he added.

FM Fidan has indicated that the Republican administration in the United States may move forward with plans to withdraw US troops from Syria, suggesting that their continued presence is more of a hindrance than a benefit to US operations.

Fidan explained that the deployment of approximately 800 US soldiers in Syria does not provide significant strategic advantage to the United States. Instead, their presence complicates US military actions in the region, particularly against Iranian militias. Fidan argued that any US military action targeting Iran risks putting American troops in Syria and Iraq, effectively making them vulnerable "hostages" and escalating tensions in the region.

Fidan also pointed to the challenges faced by the US under the previous Democratic administration, which struggled to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, and suggested that the current Republican leadership may have the opportunity to address the issue more effectively. He noted that during Donald Trump's first term, efforts to pull troops out of Syria were thwarted by opposition from US military officials.

Reflecting on past political dynamics, Fidan remarked that the Republican agenda initially included a withdrawal from both Syria and Afghanistan, but these plans ultimately shifted to the Democrats, who were unable to execute a proper troop withdrawal, resulting in significant political fallout. Fidan's comments suggest that under Republican leadership, there could be renewed momentum for the withdrawal of US forces from Syria.

Earlier, Turkish Defence Minister Yashar Guler highlighted the benefits of swift normalization, asserting that there are no insurmountable problems between Ankara and Damascus.

Following the BRICS summit in Kazan in October, President Erdogan reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to Syria's territorial integrity and stability in the region. He called for an “honest and realistic” approach from the Syrian leadership, stating that normalization could yield significant benefits for both countries.

Erdogan emphasized the importance of maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity and pursuing long-term peace, urging Syrian authorities to recognize that normalizing relations with Türkiye would be advantageous. He addressed the complex regional situation, describing it as becoming an "arc of fire" due to ongoing terrorist activities. He stressed the necessity of joint efforts to combat these threats, stating that eliminating the sources that attract terrorists is crucial to ending instability.

In June, Erdogan expressed Türkiye's readiness to restore diplomatic relations with Damascus, which were severed in 2012. By July, he had instructed Fidan to meet with his counterparts and prepare a roadmap for the normalization process. Erdogan emphasized that dialogue should occur without preconditions, particularly concerning the presence of Turkish armed forces in Syria.

In early August, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa indicated that Russia supports the normalization of relations between Türkiye and Syria, advocating for the development of the negotiation process and preparations for a meeting between the leaders of both countries.

By Tamilla Hasanova