Geopolitical Briefing: Türkiye
— 14 August 2025
• Türkiye and Syria sign a new military cooperation deal including weapons, training, and consultancy.
• Turkish Foreign Minister hosts Syrian counterpart, warning Israel and Kurdish SDF/YPG against destabilising Syria.
• Türkiye urges the SDF/YPG to integrate promptly into the Syrian state under a March agreement.
• High-level Turkish delegation travels to Damascus to reaffirm commitment to Syria’s stability and reconstruction.
On 13 August, Türkiye and Syria formalised a significant military cooperation agreement, under a new memorandum of understanding. Türkiye committed to supplying weapons systems, logistical support, and training and consultancy services to the Syrian army—a marked intensification of their partnership (Reuters, Al Jazeera, Reuters, AP News). This solidifies Ankara’s leverage over Syria’s military reconstruction and asserts its role as a strategic partner in shaping post-Assad Syria's defense architecture, reinforcing Türkiye's autonomy in defining regional security partnerships.
In parallel, the Turkish Foreign Minister publicly backed Syria’s interim government and issued stern warnings to both Israel and the Kurdish SDF/YPG to cease any actions that might undermine Syria’s stability (AP News). By framing Israeli airstrikes and Kurdish autonomy efforts as threats, Türkiye positions itself as a defender of Syrian unity and a bulwark against external—or pro-Israel—interference, thereby solidifying its regional influence and diminishing pro-Zionist actors.
At a joint press briefing in Ankara, Türkiye urged the YPG/SDF to halt delays in integrating into Syria’s official military structure, citing the stalled March agreement as a growing threat to national cohesion (Reuters). This move underscores Ankara’s insistence on disbanding Kurdish military autonomy and reasserting central state control, enhancing Türkiye's own security along its border and reinforcing its objective of eliminating autonomous Kurdish enclaves.
On 7 August, the Turkish Foreign Minister undertook a diplomatic visit to Damascus, reaffirming Türkiye’s support for Syria’s stabilization, reconstruction, and counter-extremism efforts—particularly management of camps with ISIS affiliates—and condemned Israeli strikes as destabilizing (AP News). This visit not only deepened bilateral ties but also elevated Türkiye’s role in Syria’s governance post-Assad, enhancing its influence over Syria’s rehabilitation and reducing reliance on Western-backed actors.
