Erdogan and al-Sharaa Meet: A New Chapter in Turkey-Syria Relations?

Turkey and Syria Hold High-Profile Meeting in Istanbul ISTANBUL, Turkey – In a significant development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on May 24, 2025. This marked the most high-profile meeting between the two nations in over a decade, signaling a potential thaw in long-strained relations. The meeting comes on the heels of the Trump administration's decision to lift US sanctions on Syria, a move aimed at facilitating the country's post-civil war reconstruction. The video released by CGTN Europe shows Erdogan and al-Sharaa shaking hands and engaging in brief conversation. While the video itself is short, it provides a visual confirmation of the meeting's occurrence. The event is highly significant given the long history of tensions between the two countries. "The Istanbul talks suggest a thaw in long-frozen relations," stated the CGTN Europe report accompanying the video. The lifting of US sanctions, coupled with this high-level meeting, creates an atmosphere of cautious optimism for future cooperation between Turkey and Syria. However, analysts caution that significant challenges remain in fully normalizing relations. The meeting represents a pivotal moment in regional politics and will undoubtedly be closely monitored by international observers. The potential for future collaboration between Turkey and Syria on issues such as refugee resettlement and economic recovery offers a glimmer of hope for a more stable future in the region.