Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a supporter of Syria’s new leadership, welcomed France’s decision to send a diplomatic mission to Damascus, according to a statement from Ankara on Wednesday following a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan © X
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a supporter of Syria’s new leadership, welcomed France’s decision to send a diplomatic mission to Damascus, according to a statement from Ankara on Wednesday following a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
"During the conversation, President Erdogan expressed his satisfaction with France’s decision to reopen its embassy in Syria," the Turkish presidency stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
On Tuesday, France dispatched a team of four diplomats to Damascus, where they met with a representative appointed by Syria’s transitional authorities. Their mission also included an assessment of the French Embassy, closed since 2012, with a view to reopening it, pending improvements in the political and security conditions.
France’s tricolor flag now flies again over its embassy in Damascus, joining similar initiatives by Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations, which have sent envoys to establish contact with the transition authorities.
Turkey Reopens Its Embassy in Damascus
Turkey had already reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, marking the first time in over a decade that Turkish diplomats have resumed an official presence in Syria. The move underscores Ankara’s support for the new Syrian leadership, despite ongoing global apprehension about the radical Islamist composition of the transitional government.
The new Syrian authorities have begun efforts to reassure the international community of their capacity to stabilize the country, which remains fractured and war-torn after 13 years of civil war. However, Western powers, including France, Germany, and the UK, remain cautious, closely monitoring the new government’s actions and potential for genuine reform.
The reopening of embassies and diplomatic missions reflects a measured re-engagement with Syria, as nations weigh the prospects for stability under the new leadership against the risks posed by its Islamist dominance.
By Anton Lense
President Tayyip Erdogan said he believed ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan could overcome all obstacles and he would visit Baku on November 8, after tensions in recent weeks between the historic allies over regional and domestic policies.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he wanted to speak to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine, after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries' defense ministries on Wednesday, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group continues its missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.