Turkey is ready to hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to normalise relations, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday, adding that Ankara has taken the first step and is awaiting a response from Damascus.
Speaking at a press conference before leaving for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Erdoğan expressed his willingness to engage with Assad after years of strained relations. “We have expressed our will to hold talks with Bashar al-Assad. Now, we are waiting for a response from the other side,” he said.
Erdoğan, seemingly unconcerned by the destabilising effects of Turkey’s Kurdish policy and cross-border attacks on neighbouring Kurdish regions, emphasised the need for stability in Syria, stating that the region must move beyond its prolonged conflict. “We are ready to realise this unity as two Muslim nations,” he said.
Erdoğan’s comments come at a crucial time, as he prepares for a series of high-level meetings at the UN General Assembly. He underscored that the discussions in New York would include addressing regional conflicts and emphasised that restoring peace in Syria is a top priority for Turkey.
When asked about a possible meeting with US President Joe Biden during the UN sessions, Erdoğan revealed he has not secured a meeting with the US leader. He noted that his focus remains on scheduled talks and Turkey’s ongoing diplomatic agenda.
Erdoğan’s trip to New York is set to involve discussions on a range of global issues, with Turkey’s relations with Syria and its diplomatic approach to the US expected to be at the forefront of his agenda.
In late June, Erdoğan signalled a significant shift in Turkey’s policy towards Syria, suggesting for the first time that normalising relations with Assad was possible. “There is no reason not to establish relations with Syria,” Erdoğan stated, marking a departure from Turkey’s long-standing support for opposition forces against Assad during the Syrian civil war. This move came amidst broader efforts by Turkey to rebuild diplomatic ties with regional neighbours as part of a strategic recalibration of its foreign policy.
However, despite Turkey’s push for normalisation, tensions remained high. At the recent Arab League summit in Cairo, the Syrian delegation walked out during Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s speech, in protest against Turkey’s military presence in northern Syria. This marked the first time in 13 years that Turkey had attended the summit, highlighting the complexities of the ongoing rapprochement process.
