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Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Saturday thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his strong opposition to Western sanctions and for Türkiye’s continued support for Syria amid ongoing regional challenges.
Erdogan received al-Sharaa with an official ceremony at the Dolmabahce Working Office in Istanbul on Saturday, signaling the formal nature of the high-level meeting.
The Erdogan-Syria meeting, which lasted approximately 1.5 hours, brought together senior officials from both nations to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. The talks concluded with both delegations sharing a meal together.
The closed-door discussions included key Turkish officials: Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin, Presidential Foreign Policy and Security Advisor Akif Cagatay Kilic, and Defense Industry President Haluk Gorgun participated in the discussions.
Syria was represented by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani alongside other officials.
According to a written statement released by Türkiye's Directory of Communications, Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye would continue to oppose Israel’s aggression in Syria on every platform and reaffirmed Ankara’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and centralized governance.
“Israel’s occupation and aggression in Syria are unacceptable and Türkiye will continue to oppose it,” Erdogan said.
Welcoming the easing of U.S. and EU sanctions on Syria, Erdogan said Türkiye was pleased with the move and would strengthen cooperation with Damascus in key sectors including energy and defense.
Shara, making his first visit since the sanctions were lifted, thanked Erdogan for his steadfast support in opposing the restrictions.
The Erdogan-Syria meeting comes just a short time after the Trump administration announced the effective lifting of sanctions on Syria.
The visit follows U.S. President Donald Trump's administration issuing orders that would effectively lift sanctions on Syria, marking a significant shift in international policy toward the war-torn nation.
This diplomatic engagement represents the latest in a series of high-level meetings between the Turkish and Syrian leadership since Ahmed al-Shara assumed power following the December 2024 overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
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