Afghanistan Times
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AT Kabul: In a stunning diplomatic development, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, in the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday. This meeting marks a significant departure from Turkey’s long-standing position in the Syrian conflict, as Ankara seeks to reshape its foreign policy in light of recent dramatic shifts in Syria’s political landscape.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting but provided few details. However, photographs shared by the ministry show Fidan and al-Jolani, the leader of the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), walking side by side through a crowd of delegates before posing for photos, shaking hands, and even embracing in a symbolic gesture of goodwill. This unprecedented encounter between two former adversaries—Turkey, which has supported opposition forces against the Assad regime for over a decade, and al-Jolani’s HTS, once considered an arch-enemy of Assad—signals a dramatic turn of events.
The visit comes in the wake of significant upheaval in Syria, following the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month. Assad’s government, which had clung to power through brutal repression and the support of Russian and Iranian allies, was toppled after two weeks of fierce fighting, marking the effective end of his 13-year reign. This abrupt shift has created a power vacuum, prompting various factions, including Turkey and its Syrian allies, to reorient their strategies for a post-Assad Syria.
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a public statement indicating Turkey’s intention to assist Syria in forming a new state structure and drafting a constitution. Erdogan emphasized that his country would play a leading role in shaping the future of Syria, including helping rebuild the war-torn country and facilitating the return of millions of Syrian refugees currently residing in Turkey. Fidan’s visit to Damascus is seen as part of these broader efforts to assert Turkey’s influence in Syria’s reconstruction.
Al-Jolani’s leadership of HTS, a group once heavily opposed to Assad’s rule and linked to Al-Qaeda, has transformed in recent years, with the group focusing more on governance in the northwestern Idlib province than on its earlier jihadist ideology. This shift has made HTS an important player in any future Syrian political settlement, especially as it now controls significant territory along Syria’s northwestern border.
The meeting between Fidan and al-Jolani reflects Turkey’s evolving position towards Syrian opposition groups, particularly those aligned with Ankara’s interests. While Turkey had long supported various factions seeking to oust Assad, the recent political vacuum and al-Jolani’s increasing influence in northern Syria may have led Turkey to recalibrate its approach.
In recent weeks, Fidan has discussed Turkey’s role in helping to stabilize Syria’s new political order, which is expected to include both government and opposition elements, as well as Kurdish groups. The Turkish government is particularly interested in ensuring that Syrian Kurdish militias, notably the YPG, which Ankara deems a terrorist group, are excluded from any future political arrangements in Syria.
