Turkish institutions conducted a comprehensive review of relations with Syria and the steps to be taken in the coming period to enhance and implement agreements reached between the two sides in various fields. Recently, there have been reciprocal visits between Turkish and Syrian officials, including the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Syria and his meeting with President Ahmad al-Shara on August 8, followed by visits of Syrian Foreign and Defense Ministers and the Intelligence Chief to Ankara on August 12, where a memorandum of understanding on military cooperation, armament, training, and consultations was signed. Economically, Turkey and Syria agreed to establish a joint economic and trade committee and study the creation of industrial zones to revive the Syrian economy affected by war and boost trade. The joint business council between the two countries was also re-established after being inactive since 2011.

Turkish exports to Syria increased by 49.3% during the first seven months of the year. Meanwhile, the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democracy and Equality Party criticized the Turkish government’s stance on the Kurdish autonomous administration in northern and eastern Syria, calling for abandoning threatening language and building good relations with the autonomous administration.