Turkey's Foreign Minister to Visit Syria for Talks on Kurds and Israeli Actions

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is scheduled to visit Syria on September 13-14 for discussions with Syrian leadership. The agenda includes the integration of Kurdish forces into the Syrian army, the situation in southern Syria, and strengthening bilateral ties, according to a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry cited by TASS.

A primary focus of the visit will be the integration of Kurdish formations into Syrian state structures. Fidan intends to discuss the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are largely composed of Kurdish units, and emphasize the need to fulfill prior agreements. A representative from the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that Fidan will conduct a comprehensive assessment of Turkey-backed efforts for stability in Syria and the progress in bilateral relations.

The situation in southern Syria will also be a significant topic. The Turkish side plans to discuss potential joint international actions in response to what Ankara describes as "Israeli aggression." The source added that Fidan will address the situation in southern Syria and steps that could be taken with the international community to counter Israeli actions that increasingly threaten Syrian security and stability.

Beyond security matters, the two sides will explore the development of bilateral cooperation. A Turkish Foreign Ministry representative indicated that Fidan will reaffirm Ankara's readiness to bolster the institutional and legal framework for cooperation with Syria in trade, energy, transport, and infrastructure.