Syrian President al-Sharaa meets Erdogan in Turkiye amid sanctions relief

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently held high-level meetings in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, marking a significant diplomatic event following the lifting of Western sanctions on Syria.

The meeting which took place at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul on Saturday, May 24, 2025, also had other senior Turkish officials in attendance, according to Al-Jazeera.

A Turkish state media reported the meeting.

It featured the two leaders shaking hands during an official reception before engaging in closed-door talks.

According to a statement from Erdogan’s office, the Turkish president expressed his approval of the recent removal of sanctions imposed on Syria.

He emphasized Turkiye’s opposition to what he described as “Israel’s occupation and aggression in Syrian territory.”

Erdogan asserted that Turkiye would continue to challenge these actions on all international platforms.

While only a brief official statement was issued by the Turkish presidency, it noted that the discussions between Erdogan and al-Sharaa covered “a number of mutual files.”

The Turkish delegation included key national figures:

• Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan,
• Defence Minister Yasar Guler,
• National Intelligence Organisation Director Ibrahim Kalin, and,
• Haluk Gorgun, the secretary of Turkish Defence Industries.

The talks were held privately without media access.

Al-Sharaa was joined by his Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.

Both of them were active participants in the discussions.

This visit to Istanbul follows a previous meeting between Erdogan and al-Sharaa in Ankara earlier this year in February.

It marked al-Sharaa’s second major international trip since assuming the role of interim president.

His first trip was to Riyadh, where he met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reflecting growing regional engagement with the new Syrian administration.

One of the key topics of discussion between Syria and Turkiye has been the development of bilateral ties and efforts to reconstruct Syria.

These efforts gained momentum as regional allies, including Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, worked behind the scenes to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to ease the harsh sanctions previously placed on Syria.

In a significant development, Washington lifted the first of these sanctions on Friday.

This move supposedly aligns with commitments Trump made earlier during a tour of the region.

Following the U.S. lead, the European Union also lifted some of its economic sanctions.

Its aim was supposedly to aid Syria’s recovery after over a decade of devastating civil war.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded positively to the development.

It stated on Saturday that the lifting of sanctions represents a “positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country.”

The move is seen by many as a crucial turning point for Syria, which has endured years of conflict, destruction, and international isolation.

In Istanbul, U.S. ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, also met with al-Sharaa.

He expressed support for the Syrian interim leader’s recent actions, particularly in addressing issues related to foreign fighters and initiating changes in Syria’s stance toward Israel.

Barrack highlighted that al-Sharaa is “taking meaningful steps,” suggesting that further diplomatic normalization may be on the horizon.

The U.S. sanctions against Syria began in 1979 under the rule of Hafez al-Assad, father of the recently deposed Bashar al-Assad.

These sanctions were dramatically intensified after the Assad regime launched a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in 2011.

It then escalated into a prolonged civil war.

The conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.

The sanctions targeted companies and entities doing business with the Assad regime.

These included those involved in post-war reconstruction, effectively crippling Syria’s recovery efforts.

The recent diplomatic activity, including the high-profile meetings in Istanbul and the easing of sanctions, indicates a potential shift in Syria’s international standing.

With support from influential regional players and increasing dialogue with global powers, Syria under al-Sharaa appears to be taking initial steps toward reintegration into the international community.

It is also taking steps to rebuilding its war-torn nation.

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