The expected visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Syrian capital Damascus has returned to the spotlight as relations between Türkiye and Syria see growing momentum through high-level diplomatic contacts and meetings.
Turkish Ambassador to Damascus Nuh Yılmaz said in an interview with the Syria Now platform that President Erdoğan’s visit to Syria is expected, but its final date has not yet been set.
Yılmaz explained that setting the visit schedule does not fall within his authority and that the Turkish Presidency will officially announce the date.
Speaking about the expected timing, the Turkish ambassador expressed hope that President Erdoğan would visit Damascus before the end of 2026.
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A visit planned for April was postponed
Among the key details disclosed by Ambassador Nuh Yılmaz was that President Erdoğan’s visit to Damascus was not merely an idea under discussion; arrangements had in fact been made for an earlier visit.
Yılmaz said Erdoğan had been scheduled to visit Damascus around April 21, but the outbreak of war in the region and the closure of the airspace prevented the visit from taking place.
The Turkish ambassador said consultations on setting a new date were still continuing in Ankara and expressed his expectation that the visit would take place in the coming period.
Turkish ambassador: “Our president is in love with Damascus”
One of the key points in Nuh Yılmaz’s interview was his discussion of President Erdoğan’s relationship with the Syrian capital.
Yılmaz described the Turkish president as “in love with Damascus,” pointing to Erdoğan’s desire to visit the Syrian capital and pray at the Umayyad Mosque.
He also said the Turkish president wanted to meet Damascus residents, reconnect with the city and its culture, and visit the Umayyad Mosque, one of Syria’s most prominent historical and religious landmarks.
If the visit takes place, Erdoğan’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus is expected to carry significant political and symbolic meaning amid the new phase in relations between the two countries.
Erdoğan and al-Sharaa step up contacts
Turkish-Syrian relations have recently seen a notable increase in political and diplomatic contacts.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Ankara on July 8 on the sidelines of the NATO leaders’ summit.
The Turkish Presidency said the meeting addressed bilateral relations between Türkiye and Syria, as well as regional developments and issues of common interest.
During the meeting, Erdoğan stressed that efforts to strengthen cooperation between Türkiye and Syria would continue at an increasing pace, reaffirming that Türkiye would continue to stand by the Syrian people.
The Turkish president also stressed the importance of keeping Syria away from regional conflicts, saying that stability was a key factor in the country’s reconstruction and recovery.
A visit that could carry historic significance for Turkish-Syrian relations
If President Erdoğan travels to Damascus, the visit would be one of the most prominent diplomatic milestones in Turkish-Syrian relations in recent years.
The expected visit comes during a new phase in relations between the two countries, marked by the elevation of Türkiye’s diplomatic representation in Damascus, Nuh Yılmaz taking up his duties as Türkiye’s ambassador, and an increase in high-level visits and meetings between Ankara and Syria’s new administration.
Erdoğan’s visit to Damascus and meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa in the Syrian capital would constitute an important symbolic and political step in the course of relations between the two countries.
Following Ambassador Nuh Yılmaz’s remarks, attention is now focused on Ankara as an official announcement of the visit date is awaited.
So far, the Turkish Presidency has not announced a final date for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Damascus.
