Damascus: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in the capital, Damascus, on Thursday.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan and al-Sharaa discussed regional and international developments and ways to develop joint cooperation in various fields. Sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the meeting focused on assessing the progress made in bilateral relations over the past eight months and exploring ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, particularly reconstruction, infrastructure development, and security coordination.

These sources indicated that the Syrian reconstruction issue will be a prominent topic of the talks, in addition to exploring ways to stimulate economic and development cooperation. The level of security coordination between Ankara and Damascus will also be assessed, particularly regarding the fight against terrorist organizations, most notably ISIS and the PKK/YPG, which Turkey considers a growing threat to its national security, particularly in northeastern Syria.

The sources confirmed that the visit comes within the framework of Ankara’s commitment to the unity and integrity of Syria, noting that the talks will also address the Israeli escalation within Syrian territory in recent months, which Turkey considers a threat to regional security and stability. The sources indicated that the current phase represents an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Damascus, stressing that Ankara’s priority is to leverage these opportunities to serve common interests and contribute to establishing security and stability in Syria.