Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, and National Intelligence Organization (MİT) head İbrahim Kalın paid a working visit to Syria’s capital, Damascus, on Monday, holding high-level meetings focused on Syria’s stability, regional security, and the future of northeastern Syria.

Following the talks, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Syrian Foreign Minister Esad Hasan Shaybani held a joint press conference, where both sides delivered clear and coordinated messages on the integration of the SDF, regional diplomacy, and Gaza.

Fidan Warns: No Stability Without SDF Integration

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized Türkiye’s strong commitment to Syria’s stability, describing it as inseparable from Türkiye’s own security.

You are well aware of the importance Türkiye attaches to Syria’s stability. We are always ready to provide all possible support and cooperation to this end.

Fidan underlined that the integration of the SDF into the Syrian state structure is essential:

SDF must integrate into Syria. Syria’s stability means Türkiye’s stability.

However, he voiced serious concerns regarding the group’s intentions:

We see that SDF has no real intention of making meaningful progress in the integration talks with the Damascus administration.

He added that SDF’s external coordination is a major obstacle:

The fact that SDF conducts certain activities in coordination with Israel constitutes a significant obstacle in the ongoing talks with Damascus.

Addressing regional diplomacy, Fidan said Türkiye supports dialogue between Syria and Israel but warned against destabilizing policies:

We want the negotiations between Syria and Israel to be concluded. This is important for regional stability. Israel must put an end to its expansionist policies in the region.

He also noted Syria’s changing international position:

Damascus is now part of the international coalition. During the talks, we focused on what Türkiye can do together with Damascus and the coalition, and what kind of support can be provided.

On Gaza, Fidan expressed cautious optimism:

From the first weeks of the new year, we expect the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza to begin, in line with President Trump’s declaration.

Shaybani: Delays in SDF Integration Are an Injustice

Syrian Foreign Minister Esad Hasan Shaybani echoed similar concerns regarding SDF, stressing that delays harm the region as a whole.

Any delay in the integration of SDF into the Syrian Army constitutes an injustice to the region.

Shaybani said Damascus has yet to see genuine commitment from the group:

Unfortunately, we have not seen any serious willingness from SDF to implement the unification agreement.

He added that the Syrian state remains determined to assert its authority across the country, including the northeast.