Syria's transitional govt rejects federation, autonomous regions — Fidan

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that Syria's transitional government has no plans for a federation or autonomous regions, reaffirming Türkiye’s strong stance on maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity.

During an interview with Anadolu Agency on Wednesday in Ankara, Fidan highlighted key discussions between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Syria's transitional government Ahmed Al Sharaa, emphasising cooperation on reconstruction, border security, and counterterrorism efforts against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorist organisations.

Expectations from Syria

Fidan underscored Türkiye’s expectations from the new Syrian leadership, stressing that Damascus must take full ownership of its national challenges and ensure that no threats arise against Türkiye or regional stability.

"Our number-one expectation from Ahmad Al Sharaa is to take ownership of the country’s problems and resolve them. We expect them to address issues that pose a threat to Türkiye and the region," he stated.

Türkiye, he added, holds the same expectations for its neighbours, including Iraq and Iran, emphasising that Türkiye does not threaten its neighbouring countries and expects the same in return.

He reaffirmed that Syria must eliminate all PKK-affiliated terrorists within its borders to safeguard its sovereignty and national unity.

Fidan also pointed out that PKK/YPG forces exploited the chaos under the ousted Assad regime to establish a de facto presence in northern Syria, further destabilising the region.

He also welcomed Al Sharaa’s firm stance against the PKK/YPG, saying it aligns with Türkiye’s security concerns. He noted that Syria has committed to expelling or neutralising foreign PKK terrorists to maintain its national unity.

Calls on US to halt support for YPG

Fidan also addressed the role of the United States in Syria, calling on Washington to reassess its military presence and to cease its support for the YPG, which is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist organisation.

"The new Syria must move forward without delay. We expect the US to end its support for the YPG and eliminate the threat to Syria’s national unity and territorial integrity," Fidan said, adding that Türkiye has been in intensified discussions with US officials on this matter.

Regional cooperation against terrorism

Fidan announced a new regional initiative involving Türkiye, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan to combat Daesh. The four countries plan to establish a joint mechanism for counterterrorism efforts, coordinating actions through foreign affairs, defence, and intelligence channels.

On Türkiye-Iraq security cooperation, Fidan emphasised that Iraq must take concrete steps to end PKK activities within its borders. He reiterated that counterterrorism remains a top priority for Türkiye and that regional stability depends on eliminating terrorist threats.

Fidan concluded by stressing that any attempts to divide Syria along ethnic or political lines would be counterproductive, warning that turning ethnic groups into political tools for instability benefits no one. He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to Syria’s reconstruction and long-term stability, highlighting Ankara’s willingness to support the country’s rebuilding process.

The meeting between Turkish and Syrian leadership marks a crucial step in reshaping regional dynamics and reinforcing security cooperation between the two nations.