Syria is continuing to strengthen ties with Turkey, causing concern in Israel - analysis
Syria and Turkey have signed 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding, creating links between 22 Syrian ministries and agencies and their Turkish counterparts, SANA reported.
Syria is intensifying its economic and diplomatic relations with Turkey, a move that has raised concerns in Israel. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a joint press conference in Damascus on September 13, discussing their expanding partnership. This comes after previous talks in Ankara.
Shaibani praised Turkey as an important ally in Syria's transition, following the reopening of the Turkish embassy in Damascus and border crossings after the fall of the Assad regime.
In recent months, the relationship between the two nations has accelerated, with 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding signed. These pacts aim to link 22 Syrian ministries and agencies with their Turkish counterparts. Economic ties are a primary focus, with trade reaching nearly $4 billion last year. The goal is to increase this to $10 billion, with plans for joint industrial zones, increased employment, and production partnerships.
Turkey has already supplied electricity to northern Syria via an energy agreement signed in May 2025.
Transport links, including trucking and air travel, are also expanding. Road and transit operations through key crossings have resumed around the clock, and a free zone and dry port in Idlib have opened. Fidan highlighted Syria's potential as a regional trade and transportation hub connecting Turkey, the Mediterranean, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Gulf. Syrian and Turkish officials recently met in Ankara to discuss further cooperation.
Syria's outreach extends beyond Turkey, with efforts to strengthen ties with European countries and international companies. Shaibani met the secretary general of Italy's Foreign Ministry in Damascus to explore further bilateral cooperation. Syria has also announced plans for a submarine cable between Tartous and Cyprus, involving Syria's telecommunications company, Cyprus's Cyta, and a US-based company.
The cable, expected to enter service in early 2028, will initially provide 31 terabits per second of capacity, with potential expansion. These agreements illustrate Syria's broader effort to move beyond years of isolation and integrate its economic recovery with Turkey, Europe, and international markets.
Additionally, a US Chamber of Commerce delegation of 50 companies and 80 participants is visiting Damascus this week for ministerial meetings focused on expanding economic ties between Syria and the United States. This marks the first US Chamber mission to Syria and reflects the growing international business interest in the country.
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