DAMASCUS / ISTANBUL – In a rare gesture of diplomatic warmth amid years of strained relations, Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued an official statement on October 29, 2025, extending heartfelt congratulations to the government and people of the Republic of Türkiye on the 102nd anniversary of its founding. The message, released through official Syrian state media channels, underscored the enduring historical, cultural, and humanitarian bonds between the two neighboring nations, while expressing optimism for enhanced bilateral cooperation to foster regional stability and mutual prosperity.
The full text of the statement read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic extends its sincerest congratulations to the government and people of the Republic of Türkiye on the 102nd anniversary of its founding.” It went on to emphasize the “deep historical, cultural, and humanitarian ties between the two peoples,” specifically acknowledging Türkiye’s “solidarity and humanitarian approach toward Syrian refugees during the years of war.” The ministry concluded by articulating a forward-looking vision: “We believe that enhancing relations between Syria and Türkiye will contribute to stability and prosperity in the region. We hope to see strengthened cooperation in a manner that serves the interests of the two friendly nations.”
This congratulatory note marks a significant departure from the frosty diplomatic exchanges that have characterized Syria-Türkiye relations since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. For over a decade, Ankara has been one of the most vocal critics of the Damascus regime led by President Bashar al-Assad, providing political, logistical, and at times military support to opposition groups seeking to overthrow him. Türkiye hosts the largest population of Syrian refugees worldwide—approximately 3.6 million as of the latest United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) figures from mid-2025—many of whom fled the conflict that has claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced more than 13 million people internally and externally.
Türkiye’s humanitarian efforts, as highlighted in the Syrian statement, include extensive refugee assistance programs. The Turkish government, through its Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and in collaboration with international organizations, has provided shelter, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities to millions of Syrians. Temporary protection status granted to refugees allows access to public services, and integration initiatives have seen over 100,000 Syrian children enrolled in Turkish universities under scholarship programs. Economically, Syrian entrepreneurs have contributed to Türkiye’s workforce, particularly in sectors like textiles, construction, and agriculture, with estimates from the Turkish Ministry of Interior suggesting that Syrian-owned businesses number in the tens of thousands, generating billions in annual revenue.
The timing of Syria’s message coincides with Türkiye’s Republic Day celebrations on October 29, commemorating the declaration of the Republic in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Festivities across Türkiye included military parades in Ankara, fireworks in Istanbul, and official receptions attended by foreign dignitaries. In Istanbul, thousands gathered along the Bosphorus for cultural events, while in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a national address emphasizing Türkiye’s regional influence and commitment to sovereignty.
Analysts interpret Syria’s outreach as part of a broader thaw in relations, driven by shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East. The fall of the Assad regime’s key ally, Hezbollah in Lebanon, following intensified Israeli military operations in late 2024, has weakened Damascus’s position. Concurrently, Türkiye has recalibrated its Syria policy amid domestic pressures to repatriate refugees and secure its southern border against Kurdish militant groups like the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara designates as a terrorist extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Preliminary talks between Syrian and Turkish officials, facilitated indirectly through Russia and Qatar, have gained momentum since early 2025. In July, a high-level meeting in Baghdad involving intelligence chiefs from both sides discussed border security and refugee returns. Sources familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicate that Damascus is willing to address Türkiye’s concerns over Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria in exchange for normalized ties and economic support.
Economically, rapprochement could yield substantial benefits. Syria, ravaged by 14 years of war, faces reconstruction costs estimated by the World Bank at over $400 billion. Türkiye, with its robust construction sector—exemplified by companies like Limak and Cengiz holding major infrastructure projects globally—stands poised to play a pivotal role. Trade between the two nations, which peaked at $2.5 billion annually before 2011, plummeted to near zero due to sanctions and conflict but could revive through reopened border crossings like Cilvegözü-Bab al-Hawa.
Humanitarian corridors, once conduits for aid during the war, might transition to commercial routes. The Syrian statement’s nod to Türkiye’s refugee support subtly signals gratitude while implicitly urging continued assistance or voluntary repatriation frameworks. UNHCR data shows that over 500,000 Syrians have returned home since 2016, though many cite insecurity as a barrier. Enhanced cooperation could involve joint programs for safe returns, mine clearance in border areas, and investment in Syrian border provinces like Idlib and Aleppo.
Regionally, improved Syria-Türkiye ties could stabilize the volatile northwest Syria corridor, currently under the influence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate that has rebranded as a governance entity. Türkiye maintains a military presence in Idlib under the 2018 Sochi agreement with Russia, preventing full-scale Assad offensives. Analysts from the Istanbul-based Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM) suggest that diplomatic normalization might lead to a revised de-escalation framework, reducing the risk of renewed hostilities that displaced over 1 million people in 2019-2020.
In Istanbul, the statement was met with cautious optimism. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli confirmed receipt of the message, stating: “We appreciate the congratulatory note from Syria and share the view that strengthened relations serve our common interests.” President Erdoğan, in a Republic Day interview with state broadcaster TRT, alluded to regional reconciliation without directly referencing Syria, saying, “Türkiye extends a hand of friendship to all neighbors who respect our security and sovereignty.”
Domestically in Türkiye, the gesture resonates amid growing public fatigue with the refugee burden. Opinion polls by Konda Research in September 2025 indicated that 68% of Turks support policies facilitating Syrian returns, up from 55% in 2022. Opposition parties, including the Republican People’s Party (CHP), have criticized the government’s handling of migration, but leaders like CHP Chairman Özgür Özel welcomed any steps toward resolution, noting in a press conference: “If this leads to fewer refugees straining our cities and more stability on our borders, it’s a positive development.”
In Damascus, the statement aligns with President Assad’s recent overtures to Arab states. Following the Arab League’s readmission of Syria in 2023, Damascus has normalized relations with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Economic desperation—exacerbated by U.S. and EU sanctions, a collapsing currency (the Syrian pound trading at over 15,000 to the USD), and infrastructure devastation—necessitates pragmatism. Syrian state media amplified the Türkiye message, framing it as evidence of Damascus’s commitment to “brotherly relations.”
International reactions varied. The United States, through State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, expressed hope for “genuine reconciliation that prioritizes human rights and accountability.” Russia, a key Assad backer with bases in Syria, praised the move as “constructive.” Iran, another ally, remained silent, possibly wary of diluted influence.
As of October 31, 2025, no immediate follow-up meetings have been announced, but diplomatic channels remain active. The Syrian Foreign Ministry’s gesture, while symbolic, represents a pivotal moment in a relationship scarred by proxy wars, ideological clashes, and humanitarian crises. If sustained, it could herald a new chapter of cooperation, potentially reshaping the Middle East’s security architecture and offering a pathway to post-conflict recovery for millions affected by the Syrian tragedy.
The 102nd Republic Day thus not only celebrated Türkiye’s modern founding but inadvertently became a platform for tentative bridge-building across the Syrian-Turkish divide, reminding observers of the intertwined fates of two nations bound by geography, history, and shared challenges.
