FM Fidan Visits Damascus for Talks With Syrian and Ukrainian Leaders

By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Damascus on April 5 for meetings expected to cover bilateral issues, regional developments and Syria's reconstruction agenda, according to Turkish and Syrian official accounts.

TRT Haber, citing Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, said Fidan was received at Damascus International Airport by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al Shaibani. The same report said Fidan was expected to discuss bilateral matters, regional issues, reconstruction projects, capacity building efforts, the integration of northeastern Syria into the central administration within the framework of the January 17 and January 29 understandings, and threats to Syria's security. It also said Fidan was set to hold a trilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was also visiting Damascus.

Syrian state news agency SANA separately reported on April 5 that al Shaibani received both Zelenskyy and Fidan, reinforcing the official nature of the Damascus meetings.

The visit marks another step in the rapid normalization of Türkiye's ties with Syria's new leadership. TRT Haber said Türkiye and Syria have expanded cooperation at bilateral, regional and international levels since the start of Syria's "new period" on December 8, 2024, and noted that Fidan last visited Damascus on December 22, 2025 alongside Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın.

Diplomatic representation has also moved forward. Rudaw reported on December 22, 2025 that Nuh Yılmaz had taken up his post as Türkiye's ambassador to Damascus, restoring ambassador-level representation after 13 years. Syrian state media later reported that Ahmed al Sharaa formally received Yılmaz's credentials on March 16, 2026.

That credential process later drew criticism in Türkiye. Cumhuriyet reported on March 18 that opposition figure Ahmet Erozan argued the 84-day gap before the presentation of credentials reflected poorly on Türkiye's standing in Syria. That criticism came from opposition commentary rather than an official Turkish or Syrian readout, but it added a domestic political layer to the broader normalization process.

At this stage, the official line from Ankara is focused on practical coordination. Turkish sources, as cited by TRT Haber, say the Damascus talks are expected to review reconstruction efforts, support for Syrian state capacity and wider regional spillover, including the impact of the war in the region and developments in Lebanon.