Turkish Foreign Minister meets Syrian President during US visit

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Washington on Monday, as diplomatic activities brought both officials to the United States capital simultaneously. The closed-door discussion between the Turkish and Syrian representatives occurred during Sharaa's groundbreaking visit to Washington, the first by a Syrian head of state since the country achieved independence nearly eight decades ago.

Convergence at the White House

Fidan's presence in Washington coincided with Sharaa's historic meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The Turkish minister revealed that during Sharaa's discussions with Trump and American officials, he received an invitation to join the multilateral talks, creating an unexpected diplomatic forum involving Turkish, Syrian, and American leadership.

Turkish Engagement with US Officials

The Turkish foreign minister noted he had been separately invited to meet with numerous senior US officials at the White House, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, who also serves as US Ambassador to Türkiye. These scheduled meetings provided the context for Fidan's presence in Washington alongside the Syrian presidential delegation.

Substantive Discussions on Regional Cooperation

Fidan told Turkish media that during the joint discussions, he conveyed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's greetings to President Trump and articulated Türkiye's perspectives on Syria. The conversations addressed potential cooperation opportunities with the United States and broader issues concerning Syria's development, territorial unity, and the establishment of peace and regional security, highlighting Türkiye's crucial role as a key stakeholder in Syrian affairs.