Erdogan to Visit Syria as Nations Expand Bilateral Ties

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to visit Damascus in the near future to deepen political, economic, and military cooperation with Syria. The announcement came during a joint press conference on Sunday following meetings between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.

Both nations are establishing a Joint High Committee to serve as an institutional framework for coordination in energy, education, culture, and refugee returns. Since the fall of the previous Syrian government in December 2024, Syria and Turkey have signed 40 agreements. They now aim to increase bilateral trade from $4 billion to $10 billion, a goal supported by recent visits from Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat to Damascus and Aleppo to discuss investments.

Syria has developed a program for organized refugee returns and is nearing the reopening of its embassy in Ankara. Diplomatic discussions also addressed a comprehensive energy strategy and the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions. Minister Fidan stated that Syria's stability and territorial integrity are essential for regional security.