Turkey and Syria’s Interim Leadership Discuss Reconstruction and Security

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa today for a pivotal meeting focused on rebuilding Syria and addressing security concerns near the Turkey-Syria border.

 

Al-Sharaa’s visit to Ankara followed his first international trip to Saudi Arabia after his forces overthrew Bashar al-Assad on December 8. His arrival signals the start of a transition period for Syria, which shares a 900-kilometer border with Turkey.

Turkey’s Role in Syria’s Reconstruction

During their meeting at the presidential palace, Erdoğan and al-Sharaa discussed “joint steps for economic recovery, stability, and security” in Syria. Turkey has pledged support for Syria’s reconstruction following the devastating 13-year civil war.

In exchange, Ankara is seeking Damascus’ cooperation against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria. Turkey views the YPG, the main faction within the SDF, as an extension of the PKK, which is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

Military Presence and Counterterrorism Operations

Turkey has maintained a strong military presence in Idlib since 2017, supporting the Syrian National Army (SNA) against Assad’s forces and Kurdish militias. The SNA has ramped up operations to prevent the PKK and YPG from establishing a “terror corridor” along the Turkish border.

Meanwhile, Turkish security sources have accused Assad’s former regime of seeking support from the PKK/YPG amid ongoing instability.

Erdoğan Signals Further Military Action

Amid rising tensions, Turkey is intensifying cross-border operations in northern Syria and Iraq. Speaking in Antalya on January 31, Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to securing its southern borders:

“We will not stop until we complete the security line we want to establish along our borders and crush the heads of all terrorist organizations.”