Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shabani issued a warning to Israel in Ankara yesterday regarding its potential to incite chaos in Syria. During a joint press conference, Fidan acknowledged, “Some parties are unsettled by the positive developments in Syria.”
He cautioned that, “The events that began in Latakia, the subsequent movements in Sweida, and the destabilizing role of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, which do not align with the regime, indicate that maintaining this positive chapter in Syria will be exceedingly difficult as intended.” He affirmed, “It is our responsibility to take necessary measures and collaborate in seeking peaceful solutions to these issues.”
Fidan further noted, “It appears that chaos in Syria has become a fundamental benchmark for what Israel considers its national security.” The Syrian minister expressed concern over “new challenges that are no less grave than those faced by Syria during the years of war, particularly the ongoing Israeli threats.”
Al-Shabani also warned against “multiple foreign interventions, both direct and indirect, aimed at weakening the state and creating precarious divisions,” while stressing that “these interventions are pushing the country towards sectarian and regional conflicts,” without delving into specifics.
Additionally, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that the Turkish and Syrian defense ministers signed a memorandum of understanding regarding military training and advisory roles following discussions in Ankara. The two nations have been negotiating a comprehensive military cooperation agreement for months after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December.