Talks with Israel have not reached a dead end but are proceeding with “great difficulty” due to Israeli insistence on remaining on Syrian territory, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said, stressing that Syria is “serious” about reaching a security agreement that preserves regional stability.
In an interview with Anadolu, al-Sharaa added that Israel “is acting with great brutality” and occupying areas near the Golan, while Damascus “chose a diplomatic path” to avoid escalation.
On relations with Türkiye, he said the partnership between the two countries “will shape the future of regional and global security.”
Türkiye stood by the oppressed Syrian people for 14 years, the Syrian president added, confirming that the two countries share “deep historical and geographical ties.”
The following are excerpts of his interview with Anadolu at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum:
Q: This is your second participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. What can you say about the current trajectory of Syria-Türkiye relations? Could you also elaborate on key projects such as industrial zones in Idlib, employment opportunities, and the resettlement of displaced persons?
A: Syria and Türkiye share deep historical and geographical ties. During the previous regime era, Syria was isolated from the regional and international community. The liberation of Syria created a new opportunity to rebuild those relationships, especially with Türkiye, which stood by the Syrian revolution for 14 years and supported the oppressed people throughout.
Syria has transformed from a crisis into a land of diverse opportunities. We have tried to highlight these opportunities during our repeated visits to Türkiye and other countries. There are significant regional integration possibilities between Syria and Türkiye, as Syria serves as a bridge between East and West. Work is currently underway to establish a Syrian-Turkish free zone in the Idlib region, where certain industries can be jointly developed. The zone sits along key roads connecting Idlib, Latakia, Aleppo, and Damascus.
We are also working on expanding airports, investing in and connecting ports, and rebuilding infrastructure. Turkish companies are already active on the ground in Syria's reconstruction.
Q: The recent war between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, has triggered a global energy crisis. The world is now searching for alternative supply routes and regional connectivity. What are the opportunities and challenges facing Syria in this area?
A: Syria has pointed to the importance of Syria's strategic location since we arrived in Damascus last year, but the world truly felt that need after the outbreak of the war involving Iran and the disruption to global energy supplies. Syria represents a safe corridor and an alternative route for energy supplies and supply chains — particularly the connectivity being developed between the Arabian Gulf and Türkiye, running through Syria and Jordan simultaneously. Syria's access to the Mediterranean makes it an excellent and secure link between Eastern and Western supply chains.
This has already begun to take shape. Under a joint agreement between Syria and Iraq, Iraqi oil has started to be exported through Syrian ports. Stable relations between Türkiye, Syria, Jordan, and the Gulf states are a major asset here. The main challenge remains keeping the region stable and neutral amid the surrounding conflicts.
Q: Is the Four Seas Project part of this framework?
A: Yes, it is part of this broader chain of regional integration and reconnecting trade routes. What the world is seeking most urgently right now is security for supply chains and energy. This integration — linking Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea, Syria and Türkiye on the Mediterranean, and the Gulf's access to both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf — fits that need precisely.
Q: At what stage have the security-focused contacts with Israel, in which the United States is involved as a mediator, reached? How likely is a consensus? And what is your response to Israeli Premier Netanyahu's recent statement linking Israel's presence in Lebanon to reaching the Druze population in Syria?
A: After 14 years of devastating war against the previous regime, Syria's policy is focused on development and reconstruction — and that requires stability. Israel responded to Syria with great brutality, targeting numerous Syrian sites, violating Syrian sovereignty, and occupying parts of the territory adjacent to the already-occupied Golan Heights. We have chosen the diplomatic path and are working to convince the international community to help prevent further escalation, especially after the immense exhaustion the Syrian people have endured over the past 14 years.
We are serious about reaching a security agreement that preserves regional stability. Syria has moved from a state of crisis, and the international community is beginning to see it as a source of regional and global stability, because the world experienced what Syria looked like in crisis, and has also seen, even in this short period, what it can achieve.
The negotiations have not reached a dead end, but they are progressing with great difficulty due to Israel's insistence on maintaining a presence on Syrian soil.
As for the war being waged on Lebanon, there are many other solutions available that do not involve directly targeting buildings and infrastructure. Lebanon cannot withstand a conflict of this scale. Linking these developments to southern Syria represents a major threat to regional security, not just to Syria alone.
Q: Where does Syria currently stand in its national integration process? Is there still a long way to go?
A: Considering where Syria stood before we arrived in Damascus last year and where it stands today, I believe we have achieved a great deal over the past year. The revolutionary forces, which were fragmented and divided, have been unified. The integration of the SDF forces is currently underway and proceeding well. In fact, today, the last foreign military base in northeastern Syria was vacated, and the merger between SDF forces and the Syrian state is being completed. What has been accomplished so far is a significant achievement and has greatly contributed to stabilizing the situation in Syria.
Q: In light of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent visit to Syria, in what areas can cooperation between Syria and Ukraine be developed?
A: First and foremost, there is a historic partnership between Syria and Ukraine, primarily in food and energy. Ukraine has vast expertise in agricultural production, agricultural pharmaceuticals, and related fields. Syria, at its core, is an agricultural country that needs many skills and development in that sector. The key partnership being explored is establishing a hub in Syria to re-export essential food commodities through Syrian ports.
Q: Do you have a closing message to the world through Anadolu and your participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum?
A: Türkiye, through initiatives like this forum, is contributing to global and regional stability. Türkiye's regional and international role has grown enormously, and the Syrian-Turkish partnership is something the entire region and the world can build upon for future security and prosperity.
My message to the world is this: Syria has transformed from a state of crisis into a great historic opportunity — an opportunity for stability, construction, and rebuilding.
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