Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani discussed regional developments during a visit to the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Tuesday, Sept. 8, where he met his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, and U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack.

Late Tuesday night, al-Shaibani met Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria, and the two discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations in a manner that serves the shared interests of both countries, according to a brief statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

Commenting on the meeting on X, Barrack said, “In the hours when capitals grow quiet, the real work of statecraft continues. He is tireless, clear-eyed, and serious about lowering the temperature in a region that has little margin for miscalculation.”

He added, “Diplomacy is not theater. It is the patient alignment of interests before events turn against us. Grateful for the candor of the exchange, and for a counterpart who understands that restraint and dialogue are also forms of strength.”

Al-Shaibani, for his part, responded to Barrack’s post, saying that the Syrian people deserve every effort and every opportunity for peace, stability, and prosperity.

Al-Shaibani also praised what he described as Barrack’s “sincere” efforts to support Syria “at this critical moment,” as well as his belief in the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in building a more stable future for the region.

No information emerged about the substance of the meeting between al-Shaibani and Barrack, although several shared issues are sponsored or closely followed by Washington, foremost among them the Syrian-Israeli conflict, the Suwayda (southern Syria) file, and completing the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Al-Shaibani previously met Barrack in Ankara on Aug. 17. They discussed regional developments as well as Syria’s economic recovery priorities, including completing the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country and advancing reconstruction, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

With Fidan, No Details

Before meeting Barrack, al-Shaibani met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and review the latest developments concerning the High-Level Cooperation Council between Syria and Turkey.

The two sides also reviewed the latest developments in the region, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, which provided no further details.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry published only photographs from the meeting without disclosing what was discussed. No detailed statement explaining the reason for the visit or its outcomes had been issued by the time the report was prepared.

Turkey’s semi-official Anadolu Agency also reported the meeting, citing diplomatic sources, but those sources disclosed no information about the talks.

Al-Shaibani had previously met Fidan in Ankara on Aug. 6, when the two discussed political, economic, and security issues.

During a press conference following that meeting, al-Shaibani said Syria and Turkey were moving toward expanding political, economic, and security cooperation. He stressed that combating terrorism and extending the Syrian state’s authority over all its territory formed the basis of the partnership between the two countries.

Ankara, meanwhile, announced that it was working to develop economic relations, increase the number of border crossings, and launch joint projects in transportation, education, and reconstruction.

Turkey is considered one of the Syrian government’s most prominent supporters following the fall of the former Syrian regime. Ankara and Damascus are involved in several shared issues, most notably the SDF, their common border, the conflict with Israel, and Turkish economic investments inside Syria.