Syria is continuing to strengthen ties with Turkey, causing concern in Israel - analysis

Syria and Turkey have signed 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding, creating links between 22 Syrian ministries and agencies and their Turkish counterparts, SANA reported.

Syria is moving to expand economic and diplomatic ties with Turkey as Damascus seeks investment in various sectors. This includes a need for huge infrastructure projects and also all other manner of investment. Syria-Turkey relations have been a concern in Jerusalem, where political leaders view Turkey as a threat.

This week Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the growing relationship during a joint press conference in Damascus on September 13. The meeting came several days after talks between Syrian and Turkish officials in Ankara.

Shaibani described Turkey as an important partner in Syria's transition. Ankara was among the first countries to reopen its embassy in Damascus and helped reopen border crossings after the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. Syria's state-run news agency, SANA reported on the meeting. A number of articles appeared in SANA, detailing the meetings and other recent initiatives Damascus has undertaken.

The relationship has expanded rapidly. Syria and Turkey have signed 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding, creating links between 22 Syrian ministries and agencies and their Turkish counterparts, SANA reported. The next steps include making sure that rhetoric actually results in work being done.

Expanding trade, transport, and economic ties

Economic ties are a major focus of the articles. Trade reached almost $4 billion last year, the report said; and the countries now hope to increase it to $10 billion. Plans include joint industrial zones, increased Syrian employment and production partnerships. Turkey has also supplied electricity to northern Syria following an energy agreement signed in May 2025.

Transport, including trucking and also plans for more air links are expanding as well. Road and transit operations through the Bab al-Hawa and al-Salama crossings have resumed around the clock, while a free zone and dry port have opened in Idlib. These were key crossing during the civil war as well. In those days they supplied refugees.

Fidan also emphasized Syria’s potential role as a regional trade and transportation hub connecting Turkey and the Mediterranean with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the Gulf.

The growing relationship with Ankara comes as Damascus is also seeking closer ties with European countries and international companies. Shaibani met Riccardo Guariglia, secretary general of Italy's Foreign Ministry, in Damascus on Sunday to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation.

Syria announced submarine cable between Tartous and Cyprus

Syria is continuing outreach to Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. The Communications Ministry announced an agreement for the Ebla submarine cable between Tartous and Cyprus. The project, involving Syria's telecommunications company, Cyprus's Cyta and US-based UNIFI Communications, is expected to enter service in early 2028.

The cable will initially provide 31 terabits per second of capacity, potentially expanding to ten times that amount over time, according to SANA. Together, the agreements illustrate Damascus's effort to move beyond years of isolation and link Syria's economic recovery increasingly with Turkey, Europe and international markets.

A US Chamber of Commerce delegation representing 50 companies and more than 80 participants is also visiting Damascus this week. It is there for a series of ministerial meetings aimed at expanding economic ties between Syria and the United States.

The visit marks the first US Chamber mission to Syria and comes amid growing international business interest in the country. Steve Lutes, the Chamber’s vice president for Middle East Affairs, said the delegation represents companies from a variety of sectors.

According to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, Lutes said the delegation had witnessed efforts by President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government to create an environment that welcomes business and foreign investment.