Turkish Foreign Minister Welcomes Syrian Counterpart in Ankara; Defence Officials Finalize Military Cooperation Agreement.
In a significant diplomatic meeting on Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani in Ankara, where discussions emphasized regional stability amidst ongoing tensions. Fidan underscored the need for Israel and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to cease actions that threaten Syria’s security as the nation strives to recover from over a decade of civil conflict.
At the joint press conference, Fidan criticized Israel for exacerbating challenges in Syria and cautioned that the Israeli pursuit of security must not come at the expense of neighboring nations. “True security in Israel cannot be achieved by destabilizing your neighbors,” he remarked. “Prosperity and security for all neighboring countries should be the priority.” He warned that efforts to destabilize could lead to wider regional crises.
Al-Shaibani echoed these concerns, stating that Israel’s actions “endanger the safety of our citizens,” and lamented the external forces seeking to fragment Syria based on ideological and sectarian lines.
In parallel, the Turkish and Syrian Defence Ministers formalized a memorandum of understanding regarding military training and consultancy, signaling a new phase of military cooperation following months of negotiations since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 following a sudden rebel offensive.
Meanwhile, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government continues to grapple with the ramifications of sectarian violence that erupted on July 13 in Suwayda province, leading to government troop deployments to restore order. The situation escalated as Israel carried out strikes on Syrian forces, framing its intervention as protective measures for Druze communities amid escalating regional tensions.
Amid ongoing clashes in Aleppo province between government forces and the SDF, hopes for the integration agreement reached in March—aimed at reunifying a country shattered by years of war—seem increasingly fragile. The Turkish Defence Ministry urged the SDF to comply with the terms of the agreement and cease hostilities against government forces, warning that continued aggression would have serious repercussions.
However, the specifics of the integration remain unclear, leading to confusion over how the SDF will assimilate into Syria’s armed forces, with divergent views on whether they should enter as a unified entity or as individuals. Recent reports indicate that Syrian officials have opted out of planned meetings with the SDF in Paris due to rising tensions, although there was a reported meeting between a senior Kurdish official and the Syrian foreign minister in Damascus.
The SDF played a pivotal role in the defeat of ISIS in 2019, with strong support from the United States, but now finds itself accused of exploitative opportunism by Turkiye. Fidan has publicly characterized the SDF as attempting to capitalize on the chaos in Syria, urging them to recognize that destabilization will ultimately not benefit their cause.
Turkiye views the SDF with suspicion, largely due to its leadership’s ties to the PKK, a group recently engaging in disarmament talks with Turkey after a prolonged conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives. “We are witnessing developments that are increasingly intolerable,” Fidan remarked. “The leadership of the YPG needs to stop delaying and recognize that their expectations for chaos in Syria will not materialize.” He concluded with a warning that while Turkiye approaches matters with good intentions, it will not overlook disruptive actions.