Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said the Türkiye-Syria partnership had gained momentum during Hakan Fidan’s visit to Damascus with his delegation. Speaking at a joint press conference with Fidan, Shibani said the period since the talks held in Ankara in August demonstrated the momentum in relations between the two countries.
Shibani said the relationship was advancing on solid foundations and that the main outlines of its strategic direction had taken shape.
Forty agreements signed between the two countries
Shibani said Türkiye was among the first countries to reopen its embassy in Damascus after Syria’s liberation on December 8, 2024. He said Ankara had reopened border gates and supply routes and had taken a leading role on international platforms in calling for the removal of sanctions imposed on the Syrian people.
Shibani said the presidents and ministers of the two countries had held dozens of meetings and announced that 40 agreements and memorandums of understanding had been signed between them. He also said an institutional communications network had been established linking 22 Syrian ministries and institutions with their counterparts in Türkiye.
Shibani said developments in Türkiye-Syria relations had affected citizens’ lives, citing the energy agreement signed in May 2025, the delivery of electricity across the border to northern Syria, and the sister-city relationship between Aleppo and Gaziantep.
Shibani said road transit transport had resumed around the clock at the Bab al-Hawa and Salama border crossings. He said a free zone and dry port had opened in Idlib and that a bilateral mining memorandum had been signed. He also said the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency had contributed to the rehabilitation of infrastructure and service sectors.
Shibani said more than 700,000 Syrians had returned to their country from Türkiye since December 8, 2024.
Strategic committee to be reactivated
Shibani said the talks focused on activating the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Committee between Türkiye and Syria. He said the committee would provide an institutional framework for political, diplomatic, economic and security issues, as well as energy, return, education and cultural processes.
Shibani said they aimed to prepare a comprehensive strategic document on energy covering natural gas, electricity and grid interconnection. The committee is planned to operate under a joint chairmanship, through regular meetings and a permanent secretariat responsible for monitoring decisions.
Shibani said Türkiye-Syria trade had reached approximately $4 billion last year and that their goal was to raise the figure to $10 billion. He said the target would be pursued through production partnerships, local content, employment for Syrians and the establishment of joint industrial zones in border areas.
Organized return program being prepared for Syrians
Shibani said they were preparing a comprehensive organized return program for Syrians in Türkiye covering housing, employment and transportation services. He said the program, to be administered by Syria, would be implemented in coordination with reconstruction projects in return areas.
Shibani said they were on the verge of opening Syria’s embassy in Ankara and described this as an important step. He said state institutions and sovereign decision-making mechanisms had been reestablished in Syria, adding that they were moving toward establishing a single national army, placing weapons under legitimate institutions and reintegrating the northeast into the country’s national unity.
Shibani emphasized that the process concerning the Caesar Act sanctions imposed by the United States had ended after approximately 20 months of work and that Syria had been removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. He said that afterward approximately 1.6 million Syrians had returned home from abroad, while about 2 million internally displaced Syrians had returned to their own regions.
Shibani assesses Israel’s attacks on Syria
Shibani said the strategic partnership also required an assessment of the regional situation. He said Israel was violating Syria’s sovereignty and continuing territorial incursions in the southern regions. Shibani alleged that Israel was targeting secure villages and civilians’ property, and said the August 18 attack on Abu al-Duhur Airport sent a message aimed at Syria’s state-led reconstruction process.
Shibani argued that efforts to prevent rapprochement between Syria and Türkiye reflected a desire to keep the region weak and divided. He said Israel should withdraw to the line it held before December 8, 2024, and fully comply with the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement of Forces. Shibani said Syria remained committed to pursuing the diplomatic option.
Shibani said Türkiye had openly condemned the attacks, called for the implementation of the 1974 Agreement and supported Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said they welcomed this position. Shibani said Israel’s attacks on Syrian territory and institutions had not affected Türkiye-Syria relations, adding that ties between the two countries were experiencing their strongest period.
Shibani alleged that Israel had continued its attacks on Syrian territory, facilities, and civilian and military institutions since December 8, 2024. He said the attacks had not weakened Syria’s determination to rebuild. Shibani argued that there was no legitimate or legal justification for targeting Abu al-Duhur Airport and called on the international community to respect international law to protect and support Syria.
