Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Shara, on Tuesday in Ankara, thanking him for backing rebel forces that toppled the Assad regime. The two leaders discussed a “deep strategic relationship” that would benefit both countries, including cooperation on security and economic issues.
The meeting came after a closed-door appointment of Mr. al-Shara as interim president by rebel leaders. Turkey has significant interests in Syria, including its border, economy, and refugee crisis. Mr. Erdogan expressed support for Syria’s reconstruction efforts and lifting sanctions imposed on the country.
However, Turkey’s own economic struggles may limit its ability to provide financial support to Syria. Mr. al-Shara has also been building ties with other countries, including the US, Europe, and Gulf Arab leaders, in an effort to secure funding for his new government.
The meeting marked a significant shift in relations between Turkey and Syria, which had chilly ties under the Assad regime. The two leaders discussed unifying all of Syria under the new government, but the future of this goal remains uncertain.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/world/middleeast/syria-turkey-al-shara-erdogan.html