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Erdogan meets Syrian interim president, soon after US sanction relief

Erdogan meets Syrian interim president, soon after US sanction relief

NHK25-05-2025
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on Saturday.
The meeting came soon after the US President Donald Trump's administration eased sanctions on Syria.
The US said on Friday it had issued a general license that allows activities previously prohibited under the sanctions. New investment in Syria and transactions with the country's transitional government are now allowed.
The Turkish presidential office said Erdogan welcomed the de facto Syrian leader's visit and stressed that Turkey will strengthen cooperation with Syria, especially in the field of energy.
Turkey is apparently trying to step up economic engagement in Syria.
Syria's economy has been under strain due to years of internal conflict since 2011, and rebuilding it is a major challenge. The interim government had repeatedly called on Western nations to lift sanctions which had been imposed on the Bashar al-Assad regime.
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