The high-level meetings between the delegations of the two countries in Ankara reflected a clear intention to translate efforts into actions on the ground. The countries discussed current developments and security cooperation in a high-level meeting in Ankara. The meeting included Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin, according to the Turkish Anadolu Agency. From the Syrian side, Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra, and Intelligence Chief Hussein Al-Salama attended. The officials discussed current developments and security cooperation between Syria and Turkey, according to the Anadolu Agency.
The recent meeting in Damascus between Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, with the presence of American envoys, outlined a preliminary ‘roadmap’ for the future relationship between the parties. This step marks progress towards reintegrating the SDF into the Syrian state through gradual stages, which Ankara is closely monitoring, as Turkey does not view the SDF as a national Syrian force but rather as a front for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which it classifies as a terrorist organization threatening its national security.
The previous Damascus-SDF agreement failed on March 10, which was between Al-Shara and Abdi, stipulating the ‘integration of civil and military institutions in the northeastern region of Syria’ while guaranteeing Kurdish rights constitutionally. The Syrian public is hopeful for international and regional efforts to solidify a new agreement with implementation guarantees.
