Syrian foreign minister in Ankara: Fidan and Kalın discuss SDF integration, ISIS, Israeli strikes and sanctions relief

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani held talks in Ankara on Thursday, October 8, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and with the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT), İbrahim Kalın. The meeting with Fidan was announced by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which gave no details of what was discussed.

What was discussed with MİT

Turkish security sources gave more detail on the meeting with Kalın, as reported by Hürriyet Daily News. The two sides reviewed the integration process following the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and discussed maintaining coordination against terrorist groups, including ISIS. The integration process aims to bring the military and civilian institutions of northeastern Syria under the authority of the central government in Damascus.

Kalın and al-Shaibani also discussed the continuing Israeli attacks in southern Syria and the implications of the lifting of US sanctions, including how the move could help strengthen Syria’s defence capabilities. Bilateral relations, areas of cooperation and Syria’s ties with its neighbours were also on the agenda, the sources said.

The meeting with Barrack

Earlier the same day, the Syrian minister met in Istanbul with Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria and Iraq. “Syria is a key component of the Middle East Rubik’s Cube and is assisting the region in finding an algorithm to lower the temperatures in its neighborhood,” Barrack wrote on X, adding that he was pleased to meet al-Shaibani “to discuss our shared priorities in addressing regional threats.” According to the Syrian news agency SANA, al-Shaibani described the discussions as productive.

Barrack had also taken part, virtually, in a US Treasury roundtable held in New York on October 1 with Syrian financial officials, US banks and payment service providers, according to Kurdistan24. In a post on X on October 3, he wrote: “President Trump opened the door to Syria’s recovery. Restoring financial connectivity is how we help turn that opportunity into lasting prosperity.” He said the discussions focused on combating illicit finance and advancing credible financial reforms.

Ankara’s role

Fidan visited Damascus on September 13, stressing that decisions on integration must be implemented without delay. Around the same time he promoted a corridor from the Gulf to Europe through Syria and Turkey, a proposal that bears directly on the interests of Greece and Cyprus. Ankara regards the SDF as an extension of the PKK and has made its integration into the Syrian army a condition for stability on its southern border, while viewing Israel’s military activity in Syria with suspicion.