Erdogan to break fast in Damascus on 1st day of Ramadan: Reports
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The visit follows an invitation from President al-Sharaa during a joint press conference in Ankara on February 4, signaling closer diplomatic engagement.
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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a NEWS conference at Bogor Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Feb. 12, 2025 (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, file)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Syria in early March, coinciding with the beginning of Ramadan, according to reports from Now TV and Turkish journalist Dogan Senturk. If confirmed, this would be Erdogan's first visit to Damascus since the start of the war on Syria.
Sources within Turkey's ruling AK Parti indicate that Erdogan plans to break his first fast in Damascus and perform the first Tarawih prayer at the Umayyad Mosque. Ramadan begins on March 1 in Syria, and Erdogan's presence in Damascus would mark a significant moment in his efforts to mend ties with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The visit follows an invitation from interim President al-Sharaa during a joint press conference in Ankara on February 4, signaling closer diplomatic engagement. Discussions are expected to focus on reconstruction efforts, counter-terrorism cooperation, and the return of Syrian refugees residing in Turkey.
Preparatory visits by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Intelligence Organization head Ibrahim Kalin have laid the groundwork for Erdogan's trip, reflecting Turkey's strategic shift towards rebuilding relations with Damascus.
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The visit is part of Turkey's strategy to secure its southern border, counter Kurdish militant groups, and facilitate the repatriation of Syrian refugees. It also comes amid Turkey's diplomatic recalibration with regional powers, including Russia and Iran, who have been influential in Syria's political landscape.
Although official confirmation from Turkish authorities is pending, Erdogan's visit is seen as a significant step towards redefining Turkish-Syrian relations.
