Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalin held extensive meetings in Damascus this week with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama. The discussions centered on restoring bilateral relations, enhancing border cooperation, and supporting Syria’s post-conflict recovery efforts.
Key topics included counterterrorism efforts, and the disarmament and integration of armed groups into the new Syrian framework, notably Kurdish groups such as the YPG and the PKK. Both sides also discussed transferring ISIS-linked detention centers to Syrian control, reopening border crossings, and reactivating commercial routes. Both sides addressed the return of Syrian refugees and agreed on coordination for safe and voluntary repatriations.
Türkiye reiterated its respect for Syria’s sovereignty and offered logistical and institutional assistance to support state rebuilding and security consolidation, and regional issues such as repeated Israeli airstrikes and airspace violations were also discussed.
Meanwhile, a Türkiye–U.S. working group on Syria will convene on May 20 in Washington. Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will lead the meeting, which will address coordination on Syria policy, security, and the timeline for lifting U.S. sanctions on Damascus.