Syrian–Turkish normalization

Syrian President Bashar Assad is not prepared to normalize ties with the Syrian opposition and, by extension, with Türkiye, the Turkish foreign minister has stated, warning that deeper instability could ensue if Damascus avoids efforts to resolve its internal problems.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday hailed the Iraqi government's recent efforts against the terrorist group PKK, including officially declaring it illegal.

Erdoğan expressed Ankara's satisfaction with these "positive steps" during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Istanbul, according to Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

Turkey's foreign minister will travel to Djibouti next week to attend a Turkey-Africa ministerial meeting and discuss improving cooperation between Ankara and the continent, officials from his ministry said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday discussed bilateral ties in the Russian city of Kazan, the site of a summit of the BRICS group of countries.

During the meeting, Erdoğan and Maduro spoke about bilateral relations and regional and global issues, Türkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has underscored the necessity for Türkiye to broaden dialogue within society during the period of escalating tensions in the region, saying that unity is key to resolving regional issues.

Türkiye has reiterated the importance of improving ties and building a common strategic vision with the Arab League and called on the Arab nations to further deepen and institutionalize dialogue with Ankara as both sides are facing the same regional challenges, specifically in the frame of the continued Israeli aggression against Palestinians.

Defense sources have said Türkiye's military presence in northern Syria is essential to preventing the formation of a "terror corridor" along its border.

"We, as Türkiye, want to see a democratic and prosperous Syria, not one plagued by instability and where terrorist organizations are running rampant," the sources told local media on Aug. 29.

Türkiye and Syria may engage in ministerial-level discussions as part of ongoing efforts to normalize relations, according to Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler.

The potential meeting is contingent on the creation of suitable conditions, daily Hürriyet quoted Güler as saying.

Türkiye's foreign minister met on Thursday Syrian opposition figures to discuss recent developments in the Syrian conflict, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Senior Turkish and Russian diplomats have discussed the latest developments in Syria amid the latter's efforts to mediate a new round of normalization talks between Ankara and Damascus.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz met on Aug. 3 with Russian President Vladimir Putin's Special Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev in Ankara, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.