Defense chiefs of Russia, Turkiye, and Syria meet in Moscow

Europe, Middle East, News December 29, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

A trilateral meeting between defense chiefs of Russia, Syria, and Turkiye met in Moscow to discuss the issues related to the decade-long Syrian war on December 29, 2022.

The talks between Ankara and Damascus indicate the normalization of relations between the two countries.

According to a statement released by the Turkish defense ministry, Turkiye’s defense minister Hulusi Akar and the head of its National Intelligence Organization, Hakan Fidan arrived in Moscow to meet with Syrian defense minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk. The meeting was mediated by the Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu.

The Russian defense ministry also released a statement regarding the meeting. The statement said that the defense officials discussed “ways of resolving the Syrian crisis and the problem of refugees as well as joint efforts to combat extremist groups in Syria.”

“The Syrian crisis, refugee issue, and efforts of joint fight against all terror organizations on Syrian soil were discussed in the constructive meeting,” the Russian defense ministry statement added.

Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Erdogan proposed forming a trilateral mechanism with Russia and Syria to accelerate diplomacy between Ankara and Damascus. The Turkish leader also expressed his willingness to meet Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.

*^{Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar arrives in Russia to hold talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmud Abbas. (Image Credit: Anadolu Agency)}*

A statement released by Erdogan’s office reiterated the “importance and urgency” of creating a buffer zone in northern Syria in accordance with a 2019 agreement between Turkey and Russia, which is the main backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkish backing has been vital to sustaining Syrian rebels in their last major territorial foothold in the northwest after President al-Assad’s forces defeated the fighters across the rest of the country, aided by Russia and Iran.

Under the 2019 deal, Russia promised to establish a buffer zone between the Turkish border and Syria’s People’s Defense Unit or YPG forces. The buffer zone would be controlled by the Syrian army and Russian military police. Although both Russian and Syrian government forces are present in the border region, they have failed to implement the agreement.

Russia has closely cooperated with Turkey in northern Syria in the past and in recent months has pushed for reconciliation between Ankara and Damascus. In recent weeks, Turkey has threatened to follow up strikes on northern Syria with a ground offensive. Turkey, in return, has acted as a mediator with the United Nations on an agreement that guarantees grain exports from both war-hit Ukraine and Russia, two of the world’s biggest producers.