Ties restored: Syria's new authorities make first visit to Turkey

A delegation from Syria's interim government made its first official visit to Turkey on January 15. Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Hassan Khattab came to Ankara. Turkey has assumed a key role in the Arab country since the change of power in Damascus. However, the Kurdish problem remains a concern for the Turkish authorities, who are trying to solve it militarily. Meanwhile, Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president's special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, emphasized that Russia is satisfied with the positive statements of the new Syrian authorities to its address. What is the significance of the Syrian delegation's visit to the Turkish capital - in the material of "Izvestia"

The new Syrian Foreign Minister made his first visit to Turkey

On January 15, the Syrian transitional government takes another important step in the international arena: a delegation headed by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani went to Turkey. It also included Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasr and the head of the General Intelligence Service, Anas Hassan Khattab. The discussions were held in a ministerial three-plus-three format.

The trip once again confirms the beginning of a new stage in the relations between the two countries, given Ankara's key role in the republic after the change of power in Damascus. Turkey is now considered a strategic partner for the new leadership, having become the main beneficiary of recent events, said Vladimir Akhmedov, a senior researcher at the Center for the Study of General Problems of the Modern East of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in a conversation with Izvestia. According to him, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not hide his disappointment with the intransigence of former SAR leader Bashar al-Assad, and now Ankara has an opportunity to occupy more territories.

On December 22, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Damascus and met with the new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. Shortly before that, the head of the National Intelligence Directorate of Turkey Ibrahim Kalin visited the Syrian capital. According to Vladimir Akhmedov, Ankara is trying to manage the processes in order to free the apparatus of key security agencies from former leaders.

The main issue on the agenda was to be the elimination of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Syria, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization, the Türkiye newspaper reported.

Turkey's proactive policy is matched by public statements. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the Syrian cities of Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Damascus and Raqqa could have become the centers of provinces of the same name within Turkey following World War I if the terms of peace had been different. Such signals may demonstrate his territorial ambitions and his desire to expand Ankara's influence by reshaping the balance of power in the region.

- "Syria remains in the Arab orbit, despite the strong alliance and common course with Turkey, the Arab component remains determinant in the country's foreign policy," Syrian expert Mohammed Nadir Al-Amri noted in a conversation with Izvestia.

In his opinion, the priority topics of the talks were security issues.

Turkish-Syrian relations

Turkey became Syria's strategic partner under Bashar al-Assad. Under the 1998 Aden Agreement, the Syrian authorities recognized the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization, which eased military tensions on the border. The Turkish doctrine of "strategic depth," which envisioned "zero problems with neighbors," helped build relations between the countries.

In 2004, Bashar al-Assad and Recep Tayyip Erdogan exchanged visits, which opened a new era in Turkish-Syrian relations. Political progress was matched on the economic level. Shortly before the outbreak of the armed conflict in the SAR, the trade turnover between the countries reached $ 2.5 billion, tourism was actively developing. Fifty agreements were signed on coordination in various spheres, including security, water resources and culture.

However, relations with the once allied Ankara were virtually severed after the beginning of the suppression of the uprising and numerous civilian casualties.

The Turkish leadership strongly criticized the actions of the Syrian authorities. Later, Turkey began to permanently provide its territory not only for refugee camps but also for the bases of the armed and political Syrian opposition.

The Kurdish problem continues to be of particular concern to the Turkish authorities. Since the first days of the escalation, Turkey has actively supported units manned by Turkomans, using them not only as a means to fight the regime of Bashar al-Assad, but also against Kurdish self-defense units from the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Ankara views as a terrorist structure affiliated with the PKK.

After the fall of the Assad regime, fighting broke out in the north of the country between Kurdish forces and the Turkish-backed "Syrian National Army" (SNA). The SNA, backed by the Turkish army, launched an offensive on the region's key Tishrin hydroelectric plant and the Kara Kwazak bridge. Kurdish forces have claimed that attacks by pro-Turkish units on the Tishrin dam increase the risk of its collapse.

Russian bases in Syria

Given the changed political landscape, Russia will have to engage with Turkey, which has significant influence over decisions in Damascus, to resolve the issue of military presence in Syria. Ankara, having become the main force in the Syrian arena, will dictate its own rules of the game, and Russia will have to base its decision on this when deciding on the future of its military bases. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on January 14 that Moscow had been in contact with Ankara on the situation in Syria.

Earlier, Russian presidential representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov emphasized that Russian diplomacy was satisfied with the new Syrian administration's positive statements to Russia and its interest in strategic relations between the two countries.

However, Ankara has already announced its disagreement with the presence of Russian military bases in Syria. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that his country does not approve of keeping not only Russian bases but also any other bases in the republic. Nevertheless, he said, the decision is up to the Syrian people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Dec. 19 that Moscow was in contact with all groups in Syria and countries in the region. "An overwhelming number of them tell us that they would be interested in having our military bases in Syria remain," he noted.

Putin noted the importance of finding mutual interests that could cement Russia's presence in the region. Potential points of contact with the Syrian authorities could be humanitarian aid or other support.