Fidan’s Washington trip reflects deep U.S.-Turkey consultations on Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkish political analyst Islam Ozkan told North Press on Monday that the timing of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Washington, coinciding with the arrival of Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, “reflects a high-level strategic understanding between Ankara and Damascus and highlights the depth of ongoing consultations between Turkey and the United States.”
Ozkan explained that while official statements frame Fidan’s visit as focusing on bilateral and regional issues, the core discussions are expected to address sensitive topics—chief among them the situation in Syria, the future of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and removing barriers to defense cooperation between Ankara and Washington.
According to Ozkan, sources suggest that integrating the SDF into local structures or their withdrawal from certain areas, along with Turkey’s security concerns in northern Syria and ongoing talks between Damascus and Kurdish representatives, are likely to top the agenda.
He added that the simultaneous visits of Turkish and Syrian delegations to Washington signal broader regional arrangements concerning Syria’s future and the roles of Ankara and Damascus, emphasizing that Washington’s focus lies on gauging Damascus’s readiness to align with U.S. priorities in the fight against ISIS.
Ozkan concluded that during his meetings in Washington, Fidan is also expected to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of post-war monitoring mechanisms, underscoring Turkey’s proactive diplomatic efforts, including its proposal to form an international peacekeeping or independent monitoring force.