The defence ministers and intelligence chiefs of Turkey, Syria, Iran and Russia will meet in Moscow on Tuesday, announced Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Monday.
“As Turkey and the ministry, we are doing everything we can to contribute to peace in the region,” said Akar, and stressed that Turkey expects “some positive developments to take place” after Tuesday’s meeting.
Turkish officials had previously announced that a quadrilateral summit, as part of reconciliation talks between Syria and Turkey, would be held between the countries’ foreign ministers in February but it had been postponed until May.
Ongoing Moscow-led efforts to reinstate ties between Ankara and Damascus began last year after nearly 12 years of conflict. The highest level meeting so far was in December 2022 between Turkey, Syria, and Russia’s defence ministers and intelligence chiefs. Earlier this year Moscow announced that Iran will join the talks.
The Bashar Assad government in Damascus demands that Ankara withdraw from areas it invaded in Syria’s north and end its support to Syrian rebel factions.
