President Erdogan Signals Potential Restoration of Diplomatic Relations with Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hinted at the possibility of repairing ties with neighboring Syria, indicating that Ankara may extend an invitation to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The move comes as Erdogan sees the need for a permanent solution in Syria after years of foreign-backed conflict and extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure.
The process of normalization began in 2022 with a high-level meeting between Russian, Syrian, and Turkish defense ministers in Moscow. This marked a significant step towards reconciliation after years of strained relations and military conflicts in northern Syria involving US-backed militants.
While Turkey accuses the Kurdish YPG of ties to militant groups, Syria views Turkey’s presence on its soil as illegal and calls for an end to the occupation before fully mending diplomatic ties.
President Assad links the restoration of relations to Turkey’s withdrawal from Syrian territory and cessation of support for anti-government factions. With Erdogan’s recent remarks, there is hope for a new chapter in the relations between these two neighboring countries.