Productive Talks and Confidence-Building Between Washington and Damascus: Meeting of Syrian, Turkish, and U.S. Foreign Ministers

A senior source at the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Turkey, Syria, and the United States was “sincere and highly constructive,” lasting two hours and addressing key issues raised during the recent four-party summit held in Riyadh. The comments were made in a statement to Al Jazeera.

During the talks, the Turkish Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that developments in Syria move in the right direction and underlined the need for continued communication between Washington and the Syrian government.

He also expressed Turkey’s support for Syria in its fight against armed groups and in its efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. For his part, U.S. official Marco Rubio stressed Syria’s strategic importance in the region and reiterated Washington’s desire to assist Syria in its recovery.

According to the Turkish source, Rubio expressed the United States’ commitment to removing obstacles hindering support for Syria and highlighted the need to build trust between the two sides.

In his remarks during the meeting, Rubio urged the Syrian government to demonstrate its determination to combat militant groups, affirming the U.S. wish to see the Syrian people live in peace and happiness in their homeland.

Syrian Foreign Minister Ahmad al-Shibani underscored the Syrian people’s aspiration to reintegrate with the international community and expressed Damascus’s commitment to achieving stability and prosperity. He also reiterated Syria’s continued fight against ISIS and similar organizations.

Al-Shibani stressed that lifting sanctions is essential for building a new Syria, noting that the government is making significant efforts toward development, security, and improving the country’s humanitarian situation.

Separately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria, calling it a vital step toward the country’s prosperity. He also expressed hope that the European Union would follow suit by immediately lifting its sanctions.