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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said Sunday that Syria’s strategic partnership with Türkiye is advancing rapidly, pointing to expanding political, economic, energy and institutional cooperation while saying Damascus is moving toward a single national army and the reintegration of the northeast.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Damascus, Shaibani said recent high-level meetings showed the momentum in relations.
“Our partnership is advancing rapidly, and the main outlines of our strategic direction are taking shape,” he said.
Shaibani said Türkiye was among the first countries to reopen its embassy in Damascus after Dec. 8, 2024, reopened border crossings and supply routes, and played a leading role in efforts to lift sanctions.
He said the two countries had signed 40 agreements and memorandums of understanding and created an institutional network linking 22 Syrian ministries and institutions with counterparts in Türkiye.
Shaibani cited a May 2025 energy agreement, electricity supplies to northern Syria, the Aleppo-Gaziantep sister-city relationship, 24-hour transit through the Bab al-Hawa and Al-Salama crossings, and the opening of a free zone and dry port in Idlib.
He also highlighted TIKA’s role in infrastructure and service rehabilitation and said more than 700,000 Syrians had returned from Türkiye since Dec. 8, 2024.
Shaibani said the two countries are working to activate a high-level strategic cooperation committee covering political, diplomatic, economic, security, energy, return, education and cultural issues.
He said Syria and Türkiye aim to prepare a comprehensive energy document covering natural gas, electricity and grid connections and raise bilateral trade from about $4 billion last year to $10 billion.
He also said Damascus had prepared an organized return program for Syrians in Türkiye covering housing, employment and transportation and that Syria was close to opening its embassy in Ankara.
Shaibani said Syria was rebuilding state institutions and sovereign decision-making mechanisms.
“We are moving forward with determined steps toward creating a single national army, placing weapons in the hands of legitimate institutions and reintegrating the northeast into national unity through a process that is entirely Syrian,” he said.
He added that about 1.6 million Syrians had returned from abroad and roughly 2 million internally displaced people had returned to their home areas.
Shaibani accused Israel of continuing to violate Syrian sovereignty and target villages, civilian property and state institutions.
He said Israel should withdraw to the line it held before Dec. 8, 2024, and fully comply with the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Shaibani thanked Türkiye for condemning Israeli attacks and supporting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Israel’s attacks on Syrian territory and institutions do not affect Syria-Türkiye relations,” he said. “Relations between the two countries are in their best period.”
He also said the Aug. 18 attack on Abu Zuhur Airport had “no legitimate, legal or other justification” and called on the international community to uphold international law and support Syria.
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