Washington – The United States and Turkey reaffirmed their shared commitment to a stable and unified Syria during a meeting of the U.S.-Turkey Syria Working Group held in Washington yesterday.
In a joint statement released after the talks, both sides emphasized that a peaceful and territorially unified Syria is essential for long-term regional stability and security.
“The United States and Turkey share a vision for Syria that is stable and at peace with itself and its neighborhood,” the statement read. “ A stable and united Syria, which does not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations, will support regional security and prosperity.”
The two delegations also underscored their intention to enhance cooperation and coordination on Syria policy, following a framework previously outlined by President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
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The statement added that restoring stability in Syria could create conditions for the safe and voluntary return of millions of displaced persons and refugees.
The U.S. delegation was led by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, while Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz headed the Turkish delegation. Also participating were U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack and Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Sedat Önal.
The working group discussed shared priorities in Syria, including counterterrorism efforts, the future of U.S. military presence, and the potential easing of sanctions, in line with previous Trump administration directives.
According to Turkish state media, discussions also touched on conditions in detention camps in northeastern Syria housing former ISIS fighters and their families, and the prospect of further cooperation to address ongoing humanitarian and security concerns.
Separately, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that Syria’s transitional government faces significant internal challenges that could jeopardize its survival.
Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said U.S. engagement could help stabilize the situation, adding that without such support, Syria may slide back toward “full-scale civil war.”
He also stressed that the success of the transitional government is critical to preventing renewed violence and supporting long-term peace, which would be an “extraordinary achievement for Israel’s security.”
