“There are negotiations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to resolve the status of northeastern Syria, but I prefer not to disclose details because some countries do not want these talks to succeed,” Syria’s transitional president Ahmed al-Shara, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, said in a televised interview on Monday, North Press reported.
His statement comes as he prepares to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Tuesday to discuss a potential defence pact that could see Turkey establishing airbases in Syria and training the country’s new military forces, according to multiple sources, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
Since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, Shara’s administration has been engaged in diplomatic efforts to consolidate power in Syria. Negotiations with the SDF, which controls vast territories in the northeast, aim to integrate its forces under a unified command. “The SDF is open to limiting arms to state authorities, but there are some partial differences in approach,” Shara noted.
The talks with Turkey, however, could shift the balance of power in Syria. A senior regional intelligence official told Reuters that Ankara is keen to establish at least two airbases in central Syria’s desert region, known as the Badiyah, as part of its growing influence in post-Assad Syria. These bases could allow Turkey to play a leading role in Syria’s air defence and project military power deeper into the country.
While the details of the agreement remain undisclosed, sources suggest that Turkey may take the lead in training Syria’s new army, which has been restructured following the dissolution of Assad’s forces and various rebel factions. A Syrian security official told Reuters that “Shara will discuss Turkey’s training of the new Syrian army, as well as new areas of deployment and cooperation” with Erdoğan.
Turkey’s growing involvement in Syria is not without controversy. Ankara views the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a key faction within the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it considers a terrorist organisation. The presence of Turkish airbases in Syria is seen by analysts as a direct signal to Kurdish forces, which have long sought autonomy in the region.
Despite external pressures, Shara insists that his administration is committed to restoring national sovereignty and securing Syria’s future. “We are in a stage of rebuilding the rule of law in the country. Syria must remain a sovereign nation, free from external interference,” he stated.
The meeting between Shara and Erdoğan will be closely watched by regional and international actors, including Russia, which is also negotiating the future of its military bases in Syria. The Kremlin confirmed ongoing discussions about the fate of its naval base in Tartous and airbase near Latakia, key assets that have bolstered Moscow’s influence in the region.
Observers say any potential agreement between Syria and Turkey could redefine alliances in the Middle East, with Gulf Arab states, Iran, and Israel all assessing the implications of Ankara’s expanded role.
For now, Shara’s government remains focused on consolidating power through diplomatic and security arrangements. “Our external diplomatic efforts are solely for the benefit of the Syrian people and to restore Syria’s regional standing,” he affirmed.
As Syria undergoes its transitional phase, the success or failure of these negotiations with the SDF and Turkey will shape the country’s political and military landscape for years to come.
