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Erdogan thanks Trump for ‘historic’ Syria decision during Sharaa meeting

The Turkish president also said his country was ready to support Damascus in the fight against the Islamic State and in maintaining the security of ISIS camps.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks adjusts his earpiece during bilateral talks with the US President the NATO Summit in Vilnius on July 11, 2023.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks adjusts his earpiece during bilateral talks with the US President the NATO Summit in Vilnius, on July 11, 2023. — ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked US President Donald Trump for his “historic” decision to lift sanctions on Syria. The exchange came on Wednesday during a four-way meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the first between an American and a Syrian president since 2000. 

Erdogan joined through a video link the roughly 30-minute landmark meeting between Trump, Sharaa and Crown Prince Mohammed, the Turkish Presidency’s communication directorate said.

“This morning, we held a four-way meeting with US President Mr. Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mr. Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian President Mr. Ahmad Sharaa,” Erdogan later announced on X. “God willing, we will see the outcomes of this meeting soon,” he wrote, without elaborating further. 

According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu News Agency, during the meeting, Erdogan described Trump's surprise decision to lift sanctions on the war-ravaged country as “historic” and thanked the US president.

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