ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed optimism regarding the possibility of mending relations with Syrian President Bashar Assad, aiming to put an end to over ten years of strained interactions between their nations, according to state media reports released on Wednesday.
In remarks made to the press after his visits to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, Erdogan indicated that enhancing diplomatic ties would not only stabilize Syria but also uphold its “territorial integrity.” He stated, “I am still hopeful about Assad,” as quoted by the state-run Anadolu Agency. “I still have hope that we can come together and hopefully put Syria-Turkey relations back on track.”
The relationship between Ankara and Damascus significantly deteriorated with the onset of Syria’s civil war, during which Turkey supported rebel factions aiming to oust Assad. In turn, Syria accused Turkey of stirring unrest within its borders. Turkey has since conducted multiple military incursions into Syria and continues to maintain a presence in the opposition-held northwest, actions that have drawn fierce criticism from the Syrian government.
Recently, Turkey has sought a path toward reconciliation with Syria to counter security threats posed by Kurdish militant groups operating along its southern border, as well as to facilitate the safe repatriation of Syrian refugees. Russia has played a pivotal role in this dialogue, being a staunch supporter of Assad while also having established a rapport with Turkey, advocating for a resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In December 2022, defense ministers from Turkey, Syria, and Russia met in Moscow, marking the first high-level discussion between Turkey and Syria since 2011. While Russia has facilitated communication between Turkish and Syrian officials over the past year, those initiatives have encountered obstacles and stalled progress.
Assad has publicly stated that any normalization of relations is contingent upon Turkey withdrawing its military forces from northern Syria.
During a recent Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, both Assad and Erdogan were present, although Erdogan left the session while Assad was speaking, which was seen as indicative of the strained relations between the two leaders. Erdogan later clarified that his departure was to engage in a bilateral discussion with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to normalize relations with Syria, suggesting that doing so would pave the way for peace and stability. He remarked, “We are not the ones threatening Syria’s territorial integrity. Terrorists, primarily the terrorist organization PKK/PYD/YPG, threaten Syria’s territorial integrity,” referring to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party and associated Syrian Kurdish factions.
Erdogan implied that reconciliation would also benefit Syria amid rising tensions in the Middle East. “The Israeli threat next door is no fairy tale. We must not forget that instability in the region spreads quickly through volatile lands,” he warned.
When questioned about the potential for new Turkish military operations in Syria, Erdogan confirmed that “cross-border operations are always on our agenda.” He further noted, “If we feel threatened, we are prepared to launch cross-border operations at any time.”
Turkey has long articulated plans to establish a buffer zone between 30 to 40 kilometers (19 to 24 miles) deep along its borders with Syria and Iraq to mitigate threats from the PKK and other Kurdish groups it designates as terrorist organizations.