DAMASCUS – August 7, 2025 — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan paid an official working visit to Syria, where he was received by Syrian President Ahmed Shara in the capital, Damascus. The visit marks the third high-level engagement between the two nations in the past nine months, signaling a deepening of bilateral ties after years of strained relations.
According to Syria’s official news agency, SANA, the two leaders discussed regional and global developments, as well as ways to enhance cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, transportation, and energy.
In a statement shared on his social media account, Minister Fidan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to supporting Syria in its ongoing fight against terrorist organizations. “We are determined to deepen our cooperation with Syria in every field under the leadership of our President and President Shara,” he said. “We had the opportunity to evaluate bilateral and regional steps to support Syria’s reconstruction process.”
Security matters were at the forefront of the talks. Fidan reiterated Turkey’s respect for Syria’s sovereignty and political unity, and offered support to the Syrian government regarding the administration and security of camps in the northeastern region of the country. The discussions also addressed Israel’s ongoing military activities targeting Syria, which both sides view as a destabilizing force in the region.
“The Syrian people are determined to seize this historic opportunity to build a brighter future,” Fidan noted. “The Syrian government is tackling multiple challenges simultaneously in pursuit of a safer, more stable, and more prosperous country.”
The minister also called on the international community, particularly the United States and European nations, to provide meaningful support to Syria during this critical phase. He stressed that Israel’s destabilizing policies must be countered as part of the international community’s collective responsibility.
Momentum in Bilateral Engagement
This latest visit builds upon a series of high-level contacts aimed at institutionalizing cooperation between Turkey and Syria. Foreign Minister Fidan’s first official visit to Syria took place on December 22, 2024, followed by a second trip on March 13, 2025, alongside National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın.
In recent months, Syrian President Shara and Foreign Minister Esad Hasan Sheybani have also visited Turkey on multiple occasions. These reciprocal visits have focused primarily on security cooperation, while also addressing political, economic, and humanitarian dimensions of the relationship.
As both nations work to restore stability and development in Syria, Turkey has reiterated its readiness to provide support across all domains. The current phase in Turkish-Syrian relations prioritizes mutual interests and seeks to promote lasting security and stability in the region through constructive dialogue and institutional cooperation.
