Turkey has begun a new military cooperation program with Syria aimed at modernizing the country’s security forces, but experts warn it will take years and billions of dollars before the war-ravaged country can build independent and functional armed forces.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Training and Consultancy” in Ankara on Aug. 13. The deal includes several provisions aimed at modernizing Syria’s military capabilities, including through the exchange of military staff, advanced training for Syrian personnel in counterterrorism, mine clearance, cybersecurity, engineering, logistics, general technical assistance and weapons transfers, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry. 

Turkey’s training of Syrian troops has begun, a high-level Turkish Defense Ministry official told reporters in Ankara on Thursday during a press briefing. 

While the agreement gives Ankara influence over Syria’s security apparatus, experts warn its ambitious scope demands not just money and time but also political stability.