The Syrian and Turkish defense ministries have signed an agreement on military cooperation, including training courses, programs, and technical assistance aimed at strengthening and developing the capabilities of the Syrian army.

The agreement was signed during a visit to Turkey by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra, and General Intelligence Directorate chief Hussein Salameh, who met with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler today, Wednesday, August 13, according to a post by the Syrian Ministry of Defense on X.

For its part, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that following a meeting where bilateral and regional defense and security issues were discussed, Minister Yaşar Güler and Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra signed a “Joint Memorandum of Understanding for Training and Consultation.”

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the agreement covers military cooperation between the two countries and aims to enhance the capabilities of the Syrian army, develop its institutions and structure, and support a comprehensive security sector reform process.

The agreement includes, according to SANA:

• Regular exchange of military personnel: Participation in specialized training courses designed to raise operational readiness and enhance the ability to work jointly.

• Specialized skills training: Programs in counterterrorism, demining, cyber defense, military engineering, logistics, and peacekeeping operations, in line with best international practices.

• Technical assistance: Deployment of specialized experts to support the modernization of military systems, organizational structures, and command capabilities.

According to the agency, the agreement is part of efforts to develop the Syrian army by training its personnel professionally and according to international standards, thereby reducing the risk of violations by untrained factions.

The signing of the agreement follows the events in As-Suwayda province in southern Syria last July, as well as rising tensions with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria.

Both Damascus and Ankara have signaled the possibility of escalation over the SDF issue in northeastern Syria after negotiations stalled.

Earlier today, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara, where they discussed the course of the political process in Syria and security issues, most notably the activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the SDF in northeastern Syria, as well as field developments in As-Suwayda province, according to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.

Fidan warned during a joint press conference with al-Shibani that without meeting Turkey’s security demands in Syria, “maintaining calm will be impossible,” calling on the SDF to end “direct threats to Turkey and the region.”

For his part, al-Shibani warned against “attempts to divide the country along sectarian and ideological lines” and affirmed his government’s commitment to working toward stability through dialogue with various components.

Turkey has repeatedly expressed its readiness to train the Syrian army. Just days after the fall of the Syrian regime, on December 8, 2024, the Turkish defense minister stated that his country was ready to train the Syrian army if the new Syrian administration requested it.

Regarding the presence of Turkish forces in Syria, Güler said the goal was to prevent the division of Syria and the creation of a “terror corridor,” adding that Turkey might discuss this issue with the new administration if the necessary conditions were met.

Damascus and Ankara Threaten Escalation in Eastern Syria