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Turkish President Pledges to Continue Supporting Stability in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Turkey and Syria will not tolerate any attempts aimed at igniting chaos on Syrian territory. He emphasized that the forces lurking for chaos "will lose this time," and that the Syrian people, with their various components—Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Alawites, Sunnis, and Christians—will ultimately prevail.
Erdoğan made this statement during his meeting with journalists on his way back from a visit to China, where he participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. He expressed Turkey’s hope that Syria will enjoy lasting peace and prosperity, while maintaining its unity and cohesion. He stressed that recent unrest has proven that any destabilization in Syria directly impacts Turkey.
The Turkish president confirmed that Ankara will not abandon its support for Syria, warning that anyone attempting to hinder its reconstruction "will pay the price." He reiterated that brotherhood among the peoples of the region, including the Kurds, is a red line for Turkey, saying: "Kurds are our brothers and sisters wherever they are. No one can separate them, just as meat cannot be separated from the bone. Brotherhood will not be divided."
Erdoğan pointed out that wisdom and insight can solve all problems; however, the lack of good intentions can turn even the smallest issues into complex knots. He affirmed that Turkey will continue supporting Syria’s stability and working towards establishing peace in the country.
Regarding Turkey’s support for peaceful efforts in Syria, he referred to statements he made on September 1 during the Shanghai Organization summit, where he expressed hope that new opportunities for regional peace and stability could emerge. He confirmed Turkey’s support for Syria’s rise while maintaining its territorial and political unity, emphasizing that Turkey will continue to oppose any attempts that threaten Syria’s security and territorial integrity.
**Turkey-Syria Cooperation at an Advanced Stage**
Relations between Turkey and Syria have experienced a noticeable acceleration, especially after the fall of the previous Damascus regime. Cooperation has begun to manifest across political, military, and economic levels. On August 13, Ankara and Damascus signed a military cooperation agreement that includes joint training programs, technical assistance, as well as courses in counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and military engineering. The Syrian Ministry of Defense considered this agreement an important step toward developing the capabilities of the Syrian army according to international standards, aiming to reduce the chaos caused by armed factions over the past few years.
On the economic front, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat, during his visit to Damascus in April, confirmed Turkey’s desire to enhance economic cooperation with Syria, similar to major regional models. He stressed that the historical relations between the two countries would help build extensive investment and trade partnerships. He added that Syrian entrepreneurs residing in Turkey have gained skills that could be utilized in reconstructing Syria.
In the energy sector, significant developments also took place; in August, it was announced that Azerbaijani natural gas had begun flowing into Syria via Turkey, as part of the second phase of Qatar’s support for Syria’s energy sector. This reflects Turkey’s commitment to contributing to the reconstruction of Syria’s energy sector and supporting efforts to stabilize it.
