Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Shara (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) to Ankara on 4 February 2025 for an unprecedented meeting. The visit marks a significant moment in the evolving relationship between Turkey and Syria, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.
The leaders discussed critical issues including military cooperation, counter-terrorism efforts and the reconstruction of Syria. Erdoğan greeted al-Shara as “my brother” and reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity. Erdoğan’s official statement reiterated Turkey’s continued support: “We will provide our Syrian brothers and sisters with the required support in the new period as well,” reaffirming Turkey’s commitment to Syria’s future.
Direniş azimleriyle bölgeye ve mazlumlara ilham olan Suriyeli kardeşlerimizin, Allah’ın izniyle ülkelerini tekrar ayağa kaldıracaklarından hiçbir şüphe duymuyoruz. pic.twitter.com/EtUYQHOSV7
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) February 4, 2025
The high-profile reception underlines the political importance of the visit. Erdoğan’s repeated references to al-Shara as ‘my brother’ signalled the centrality of this diplomatic moment for both countries. This comment by journalist and Kurdish activist Scharo Maroof, who tweeted ‘Turkey announcing the meeting with Jolani like a WWE showdown 💀’, captures the larger-than-life atmosphere surrounding the event and reflects its symbolic significance in regional politics:
Turkey announcing the meeting with Jolani like a WWE showdown 💀 https://t.co/eCaZx5kjFq pic.twitter.com/qDpLMRRnxP
— ScharoMaroof (@ScharoMaroof) February 4, 2025
The visit also underlines efforts to strengthen military and diplomatic cooperation. Both leaders emphasised their shared commitment to Syria’s security and the “challenges” posed by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, a contentious issue for Turkey. The tone of the meeting suggest that Erdoğan views al-Shara’s leadership as crucial to Syria’s future, signalling Turkey’s intention to play a leading role in the country’s transition beyond military involvement to diplomatic and economic cooperation.
However, the meeting comes shortly after al-Shara’s first official foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, which raised questions about Turkey’s influence. Despite Turkey’s early diplomatic outreach, including visits by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın, al-Shara’s choice of Saudi Arabia signals a shift in regional alliances. Saudi Arabia’s increasing role in the region, including its normalisation of relations with Israel and gradual distancing from strict Salafist ideologies, positions Riyadh as a key player in Syria’s future governance.
Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, have expressed support for lifting sanctions on Syria, which would facilitate deeper economic ties. While Turkey remains actively engaged in Syria, its competition with Saudi Arabia for influence could reshape the country’s post-Assad political landscape.
The outcome of ongoing negotiations between Turkey, Syria and other regional powers is likely to determine the future direction of Syria’s recovery and its relations with neighbouring countries.
