Turkey and Syria Push Towards Diplomatic Normalization

Turkey and Syria are considering high-level meetings to normalize relations, as stated by Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler. Turkish President Erdogan is preparing to invite Syrian President Assad for talks. However, Assad requires a focus on pivotal issues, like the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syria, before proceeding.

Turkey and Syria are weighing the possibility of high-level diplomatic meetings to restore their strained ties, according to Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler, who shared insights in an interview with Reuters.

Last month, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed his intentions to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for discussions aimed at normalizing relations, which were disrupted after the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011. However, Assad has stipulated that such talks must prioritize fundamental issues, including the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syria.

The potential ministerial meeting would be a significant step towards addressing the complexities and conflicts that have long impacted bilateral relations between the neighboring countries.