Ankara – Turkey – August 14, 2025 –
In a move that signals a dramatic shift in regional dynamics, Turkey and Syria have signed a new defense cooperation agreement, focusing on military training and consultancy. The deal, which follows months of negotiations, was finalized during a high-level visit by Syrian officials to Ankara and is seen as a significant step toward bolstering the Syrian Armed Forces and establishing a united front against shared security threats.
The agreement, a “memorandum of understanding on military training and consultancy,” was signed by Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra. The Syrian delegation also included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and intelligence chief Hussein Salameh, underscoring the strategic importance of the talks. The deal comes after months of discussions initiated in the wake of a political transition in Syria.
According to a statement from the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the agreement aims to “enhance the capabilities of the Syrian Arab Army, develop its institutions and structure, and support the comprehensive security sector reform process.” The pact outlines a range of cooperation measures, including:
* Regular Exchange of Personnel: Military personnel from both countries will participate in specialized training courses to improve operational readiness and enhance their ability to work together effectively.
* Specialized Skills Training: The agreement includes programs focused on critical areas such as counterterrorism, mine clearance, cyber defense, military engineering, logistics, and peacekeeping operations, all of which are essential for stabilizing the post-conflict landscape in Syria.
* Technical Assistance: Turkey will send specialized experts to Syria to provide technical assistance in modernizing its military systems, organizational structures, and command capabilities.
The signing of the agreement comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with both Turkey and Syria expressing concerns about external interventions and the actions of certain actors. In a joint press conference, the foreign ministers of both countries explicitly warned Israel and Kurdish fighters to cease actions they accused of threatening Syria’s stability. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that “certain actors are bothered by the positive developments in Syria” and that “the emergence of chaos in Syria… appears to have become a priority for Israel’s own national security.”
For Turkey, the agreement is a strategic move to reinforce the central Syrian government and mitigate threats originating from Syria, particularly from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF controls a significant portion of northeastern Syria and has been a key U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS. Turkey views the SDF with hostility due to its ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has a long history of conflict with Ankara.
The new defense pact and Turkey’s public support for the Syrian government also come at a time when the implementation of an agreement to integrate the SDF with the new Syrian army has stalled, leading to scattered outbreaks of violence. Turkey has previously expressed frustration with the slow progress on this front, and the new agreement can be seen as an attempt to exert pressure on the SDF to comply with the integration plan.
The development also holds significant implications for the broader regional balance of power, as it positions Turkey more firmly against Israel, which has carried out repeated airstrikes on targets within Syria. The defense cooperation pact increases the risk of a proxy conflict between the two countries, even though a deconfliction mechanism is reportedly in place to reduce the risk of direct clashes.
The agreement has been widely welcomed by the Syrian government, which last month had requested Turkey’s support to strengthen its defense capabilities following an increase in sectarian violence. However, some regional and international observers have expressed concern over the deal’s potential to further complicate the already volatile situation in Syria. As Turkey and Syria deepen their security cooperation, the international community will be closely watching for how this new alliance impacts the country’s long-term stability and the ongoing efforts to rebuild a nation ravaged by years of war.
