Damascus: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin are in Syria's capital, Damascus, for crucial discussions with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and other officials. This visit is aimed at evaluating the progress in Trkiye-Syria relations since the first anniversary of the Bashar Assad regime's overthrow.

According to Anadolu Agency, the meetings will address the political, economic, and security dimensions of the relationship between the two countries. A significant part of the discussions will focus on the March 10 agreement, which is pivotal to Trkiye's national security interests. The visit also aims to tackle emerging security threats in southern Syria due to Israel's recent actions.

The talks will discuss collaborative efforts to prevent the resurgence of the Daesh (ISIS) terrorist group, especially given Syria's recent accession to the International Coalition to Defeat Daesh (ICDC). The agenda also includes an assessment of bilateral projects for Syria's reconstruction and initiatives to support the Syrian government's capacity-building.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz, appointed as Trkiye's ambassador to Damascus, is also part of this diplomatic mission. Over the past year, Trkiye-Syria relations have evolved with opportunities for cooperation, particularly in security and economic fields. Trkiye aims to support Syria's stability and leverage new cooperation opportunities for mutual benefit.

Fidan's last visit to Syria was in December 2024, following the Assad regime's collapse. The positive atmosphere has encouraged reciprocal high-level visits between the two nations, including meetings in the 3+3 format. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani visited Trkiye earlier this year, and another significant meeting took place in Ankara on October 12, reinforcing the ongoing collaboration between the countries.