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US, Turkey vow closer Syria coordination after Washington talks

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The United States and Turkey on Monday pledged to expand cooperation on Syria during high-level talks in Washington, aiming to stabilize the region following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

The renewed commitment came during a session of the US-Turkey Syria Working Group, led by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz. The meeting was attended by US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack Jr. and Turkish Ambassador to the United States Sedat Önal.

In a joint statement the countries talked about their shared vision of a “stable and united Syria” that respects its territorial integrity and does not serve as a haven for terrorist groups. They also agreed to improve coordination on security measures and address the return of millions of displaced Syrians.

The talks follow earlier directives from presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and signal a renewed diplomatic effort to align the two NATO allies, whose cooperation in Syria has long been complicated by conflicting military and political priorities.

The fall of Assad marked a significant turning point in the Syrian conflict. In early December opposition forces, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, launched a rapid offensive that culminated in the capture of Damascus. Assad fled the capital and was granted asylum in Russia, ending over five decades of family rule.

Following the regime’s collapse, a transitional government led by interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa was established. The new leadership has faced challenges in unifying the country and addressing sectarian tensions, particularly concerning minority groups.

Turkey has conducted multiple military operations in northern Syria targeting Kurdish forces it regards as terrorists. Those same groups, particularly the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have played a central role in the international coalition’s fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), creating persistent tensions between Washington and Ankara.

The statement also noted the need for humanitarian aid and conditions conducive to the voluntary return of refugees, a particularly sensitive issue for Turkey, which hosts more than 3 million Syrians.

Meanwhile, President Trump announced last week that he was waiving sanctions on the war-torn country, a move followed by the European Union, which is expected to officially announce its decision today. They are seeking to support the country’s reconstruction with the removal of the economic sanctions.

Western states had imposed a plethora of sanctions on Assad, his inner circle and the Syrian government as a whole throughout the 14-year civil war, which killed over half a million people.

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