Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Aug. 19 to discuss the bilateral ties.
“We had the opportunity to assess the new era we have initiated between the two countries in the fields of energy and mining, as well as the possibilities for cooperation,” Bayraktar wrote on X after the meeting.
“In line with the strong vision put forward by our President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan in Syria policy, which is solution-oriented, dialogue-based and centers humanitarian sensitivities, we are steadfastly advancing the process,” he added.
“We believe that the collaborations we have built on a foundation of mutual trust will pave the way for lasting peace, stability, and shared prosperity in our region,” Bayraktar said.
Meanwhile, Türkiye and Syria signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on phosphate on Aug. 19, opening the way for joint mining and transport projects as the two countries expand cooperation in energy and infrastructure.
The MoU was signed between MTA IC, an affiliate of Türkiye’s General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), and Syria’s General Directorate of Geology and Mineral Resources in Damascus.
Speaking at a joint press conference following the signing, Bayraktar said the two sides aim to move toward a commercial agreement and develop a project covering phosphate production, phosphate field development and the construction of a railway linking the fields to a port.
