Turkish ruling party: Timing, venue of Erdogan-Assad meeting still pending

Spokesman for Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party Omer Celik has announced that preparation is underway for the first meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since 2011.

“The timing and location of the meeting have yet to be determined,” he said, Caliber.Az reports citing the Russian media.

“The schedule for the meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is still pending, with no set date, time, or location. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to organise the meeting. Currently, intelligence representatives are preparing for the meeting and will compile the necessary dossier. The Turkish Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry will provide their recommendations based on this preparation. Following this, a detailed schedule for the meeting will be established, though it remains unclear whether it will be a direct meeting between the two presidents or mediated by a third country,” he added.

According to the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper, discussions between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may be held in Moscow in August.

Türkiye-Syria relations have been marked by a complex and evolving history, influenced by political, military, and regional dynamics.

One of the major sources of tension has been the Kurdish issue. Türkiye is concerned about Kurdish militant groups, such as the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) and its affiliates in Syria, which it views as terrorist organisations. Syria's support for these groups has been a point of contention.

Türkiye has conducted several military operations in northern Syria aimed at combating Kurdish militant groups and establishing a buffer zone to control the influx of refugees and prevent cross-border attacks. Notable operations include "Operation Euphrates Shield" (2016), "Operation Olive Branch" (2018), and "Operation Peace Spring" (2019).

Türkiye's military actions are driven by security concerns, including the prevention of an autonomous Kurdish region near its border and the management of refugee flows.

Despite conflicts, there have been periods of diplomatic engagement and attempts at dialogue. High-level meetings have occasionally occurred to address issues and seek solutions to ongoing disputes.