Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Intelligence Organization Director Ibrahim Kalin during his visit to Türkiye on August 6, 2026. The talks addressed issues ranging from security and the economy to regional connectivity.
Integration and border security top the security agenda
A day before Shaibani’s visit to Ankara, a meeting was held in Damascus under the chairmanship of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with Mazloum Abdi, one of the leaders of the YPG/SDF, also attending. During the visit, the integration process of the SDF, joint security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts came to the fore.
Kalin and Shaibani discussed issues related to the implications for Syria of the “Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” prepared as part of the “Terror-Free Türkiye process.”
A joint press statement emphasized that all armed groups must be integrated under legitimate state institutions. It also stated that the process of restructuring, professionalizing and institutionalizing Syria’s army was continuing.
Syria’s approach to regional security
Syria’s security agenda was not limited to the SDF issue. Shaibani supported the efforts of the authorities in Iraq and Lebanon to dismantle armed groups.
The Lebanon file and Israel’s policies in the region were also among the issues on the agenda. Syria has prioritized diplomatic tools in its Lebanon policy, while its approach of protecting the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty is reflected in its foreign policy.
Economic cooperation and regional connectivity
About a week before Shaibani’s visit to Ankara, Fatih Karahan, governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, held talks in Damascus. Karahan was received by Shaibani and met with Syrian Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan.
At the meeting, the two countries agreed to open reciprocal deposit accounts between their central banks, strengthen technical and institutional cooperation, provide technical support to the Syrian Central Bank, and facilitate commercial and financial transactions.
The joint press statement also emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to develop road and railway links among Türkiye, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the Four Seas Initiative.
A multifaceted framework for relations
The Ankara visit showed that while the security agenda remains important in Türkiye-Syria relations, economic cooperation and regional connectivity are also being addressed within a comprehensive framework. Security and economic cooperation were viewed as two complementary pillars of the relationship.
The integration and military centralization processes in Syria were identified as critical issues for the country’s territorial integrity and stability. The development of economic integration and regional connectivity, meanwhile, must advance alongside efforts to strengthen state capacity and manage security risks.
