Turkey Eyes Maritime Demarcation Agreement With Syria Amid Improved Relations

Turkey plans to pursue a maritime demarcation agreement with Syria once a permanent government is established in Damascus, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced on Tuesday.

This development comes as Turkey strengthens ties with its neighbor following the recent collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime after a 13-year civil war. Turkey, which supported Syrian rebels during the conflict, has engaged closely with Syria’s interim administration. High-level meetings have already taken place, including discussions between Turkey’s intelligence chief, foreign minister, and de-facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Last week, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan emphasised Ankara’s intention to deepen cooperation with Syria across various sectors, including trade, energy, and defense. Building on this momentum, Transport Minister Uraloglu highlighted plans for negotiations on a potential maritime demarcation agreement.

“An authority must first be established there… It will be on our agenda for sure, but it’s hard to say that it’s on today’s agenda,” Uraloglu said.

The proposed agreement, aligned with international law, would enable Turkey and Syria to define maritime boundaries and allocate rights for oil and hydrocarbon exploration in shared waters.

The move underscores Turkey’s strategic interest in fostering stability and economic collaboration with Syria after years of conflict and strained relations. Observers see these talks as a significant step toward rebuilding ties and addressing mutual interests in the region.

Melissa Enoch

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