Turkey says naval cooperation with Syria will support regional stability
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday that expanding military cooperation with Syria, including support for the country’s naval forces, would contribute to regional stability.
In a statement, the ministry said it believes that strengthening the “harmonious relations” between Turkey and Syria across different sectors, establishing new areas of cooperation and developing the capabilities of the Syrian Naval Forces would enhance stability in the region.
The ministry also confirmed that the commander of the Turkish Naval Forces and an accompanying delegation visited Syria on July 13 to strengthen military cooperation and coordination in the maritime domain.
According to the statement, the visit focused on expanding naval cooperation and discussing issues of mutual interest between the two countries.
The trip marks one of the highest-level military exchanges between Ankara and Damascus since the two countries moved to normalize relations following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Turkey has since pledged support for rebuilding Syria’s state institutions and security sector, while maintaining close coordination with the Syrian government on border security and counterterrorism.
Defense cooperation between the two countries has expanded in recent months, with Turkish officials holding a series of meetings with their Syrian counterparts on military training, security coordination and institutional capacity-building. Ankara has also expressed its readiness to assist in restructuring Syria’s armed forces and improving the capabilities of its defense institutions.
The latest visit underscores growing cooperation in the maritime sector, where Syria is seeking to rebuild military capabilities after more than a decade of conflict and the deterioration of much of its naval infrastructure.
The visit comes days after Turkish naval vessels docked at Syria’s Port of Latakia for the first time since 2011, a move that North Press previously reported as a milestone in the growing military cooperation between Ankara and Damascus.