Seda Sevencan
14 May 2025•Update: 14 May 2025
ISTANBUL
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday participated remotely in a meeting with leaders from the US, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.
The meeting included US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, with Erdogan joining virtually from Türkiye.
During the meeting, Erdogan expressed Ankara’s desire for Syria to be a stable, prosperous nation that collaborates with its regional neighbors and poses no threat to them, citing Türkiye's ongoing efforts to achieve this goal.
Erdogan also affirmed Türkiye's continued support for Damascus’ fight against terrorist groups, particularly ISIS (Daesh). He added that Türkiye is ready to assist in managing and securing prisons holding ISIS terrorists.
On Trump's decision this week to lift sanctions on Syria, Erdogan said the step carries historic importance, saying it could set an example for other countries that still have sanctions – relics of the Assad era – and could pave the way for investment opportunities in various sectors in Syria.
Decrying the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Erdogan stressed Türkiye's continued efforts to break the cycle of violence, adding that the time has come to end the suffering in the Palestinian enclave.
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Erdogan advocated for the immediate start of ceasefire and peace negotiations at both the leadership and technical levels, reiterating Ankara's commitment to do everything possible to support peace efforts, ahead of Thursday’s planned meeting in Istanbul between the two countries.
