Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed strong support for Syria’s newly appointed interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during his first official visit to Turkey. In a recent joint news conference held in Ankara, Erdogan praised al-Sharaa’s dedication to combating terrorism, stating, “I would like to express our satisfaction for the strong commitment my brother Ahmed al-Sharaa has shown in the fight against terrorism.”
Al-Sharaa’s visit follows the significant political changes in Syria, where his Islamist-led rebels successfully ousted long-time authoritarian leader Bashar al-Assad on December 8. Since then, Turkey has played a critical role in supporting al-Sharaa’s government, providing military assistance and operational support aimed at addressing ongoing threats posed by militant groups in the war-torn nation.
The Turkish President emphasized the urgency of collaboration in fighting various terrorist factions within Syria, particularly the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish militants located in the northeastern regions. Erdogan has denounced these groups as significant threats to Turkey’s national security, primarily due to their connections with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), a designated terrorist organization in Turkey.
During the conference, he reaffirmed Turkey’s willingness to support Syria in its counter-terrorism efforts, stating, “I told (Sharaa) we are ready to provide the necessary support to Syria in the fight against all kinds of terrorism, whether it be Daesh or the PKK.” The term “Daesh” is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.
Erdogan also reiterated Turkey’s readiness to assist in managing the facilities housing IS fighters in northeastern Syria, which currently fall under the jurisdiction of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). He remarked on the importance of cooperation in controlling these camps, acknowledging that the SDF is considered by many in the West as essential in thwarting the resurgence of jihadists. However, Turkey views the SDF as a terrorist organization, leading to warnings of possible military action if the group does not disband.
Erdogan’s statements underline a broader strategic objective within the region, declaring that for the safety of both Turkey and Syria, cooperation is imperative. He concluded by calling for joint efforts against mutual threats, highlighting the interconnected security challenges faced by both nations.
