Syrian President Arrives in Ankara for Talks with Trump and Erdoğan

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has arrived in Ankara for significant diplomatic discussions, reportedly set to include meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump. The summit brings together leaders from 36 nations, with additional representation from Persian Gulf countries.

Assad was invited by President Erdoğan, and Trump, who has spoken of his close relationship with the Turkish leader, described the new Syrian leader as a "tough guy." Trump told reporters on Tuesday that thanks to President Erdoğan, he maintains very good relations with the new Syrian leader. "He has done a wonderful job in the last year and a half, bringing the whole country together. And I have a very, very good relationship with him," Trump stated, adding that he and President Erdoğan fully agreed with someone calling the new Syrian leader a tough guy.

The 13-year conflict has devastated Syria, necessitating international support for reconstruction, and the country continues to face numerous threats. On Tuesday, two explosions near a hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying in Damascus resulted in one death and 36 injuries. This underscores the volatile security situation in the region.

Last November, Assad visited Washington to seek financial assistance for Syria. However, last month, he rejected Trump's calls to use military force against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon, which is engaged in conflict with Israel. "We are looking for economic channels between Lebanon and Syria, not military ones," Assad said in an interview last month, indicating his preference for diplomatic and economic solutions over military intervention.