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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may visit Damascus within the next 15 days, with plans to pray at the historic Umayyad Mosque according to Türkiye Daily. Speculation is also growing that Erdogan may meet with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (a.k.a. al-Jolani) during this trip, as HTS now controls Damascus following a significant military advance.
Erdogan’s potential visit to Damascus would mark a significant turning point in Türkiye-Syria relations, especially given the collapse of the Assad regime and HTS’s ascension to power. A meeting between Erdogan and Shara could redefine regional diplomacy, influence peace-building efforts, and determine Türkiye’s role in Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction.
A potential Erdogan-Shara meeting could signify Türkiye’s willingness to engage with HTS in Syria. Such a move may pave the way for collaboration on regional security, managing the refugee crisis, and counter-terrorism efforts. It could also influence the international community’s stance toward HTS.
Erdogan’s anticipated visit highlights Türkiye’s strategic role in shaping Syria’s future in the wake of the Assad regime’s downfall. By re-establishing diplomatic ties and asserting its influence in Damascus, Türkiye is positioning itself as a key regional power, aiming to stabilize its southern borders while addressing broader geopolitical and humanitarian challenges.
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