Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and US Special Representative for Syria and Iraq Thomas Barrack met in Istanbul to discuss Syria-US relations and the latest developments in the region.
During Thursday’s meeting, the sides assessed opportunities for cooperation and coordination on several issues of common interest. According to a statement from Syria’s Foreign Ministry, they also discussed efforts to support security and stability.
Previous meetings in Istanbul and Ankara
The latest meeting between al-Shaibani and Barrack took place about two weeks after Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Barrack in New York on September 22, 2026, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings. Al-Shaibani also attended that meeting.

The two officials also discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region during their meeting in Ankara on September 8.
At their meeting in Istanbul on August 17, al-Shaibani and Barrack discussed priorities for strengthening Syria-US relations and supporting Syria’s economic recovery. They also focused on completing the process of lifting sanctions and accelerating reconstruction efforts.