Turkish defense minister signals possible ministerial-level talks with Syria

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler has indicated the possibility of a ministerial-level meeting between Türkiye and Syria as part of the ongoing efforts to normalize relations between the two countries.

In an interview with Reuters, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler suggested that Türkiye and Syria could hold ministerial-level meetings to advance the normalization of relations, provided suitable conditions are met.

This follows Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s recent statement about inviting Syrian President Bashar Assad to discuss normalizing ties, which were severed after the 2011 Syrian conflict.

However, Assad has stipulated that such discussions would need to address core issues, including the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syria.

Speaking on the matter, Minister Guler noted that such a meeting could occur if suitable conditions are met, underscoring the potential for high-level diplomatic engagement in the normalization process.