Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the avoidance of any confrontation with Israel on Syrian soil, in an interview with Reuters, on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels.

Fidan denounced repeated Israeli attacks on military sites in Syria, saying they have undermined the ability of the new government in Damascus to deter external threats and could lead to new regional instability. He also noted that the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa maintains close relations with Ankara.

If the new government chooses to talk directly with Israel, that is its own business, he said, emphasizing, however, that Turkey condemns the Israeli strikes as a violation of Syrian national sovereignty.

Tough stance against Israel

Turkey, a NATO member, has raised its voice against Israel following the military operations in Gaza since 2023. Ankara has accused Tel Aviv of genocide against the Palestinians, has asked to participate in a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and has suspended all trade with the Jewish state. Israel, for its part, categorically rejects the accusations.

The escalation of tension has also spread to Syria, where Israeli attacks have continued since the rise of the new government in Damascus. Israel maintains that it will not allow enemy forces to establish themselves in the country.

Support for the peace initiative for Ukraine

At the same time, Fidan expressed Turkey's support for the American initiative to end the war in Ukraine, although he stressed that the two sides are still far from a realistic agreement.

It will be extremely difficult to accept any proposal, he said, adding that even a difficult treaty is more reasonable than continuing the bloodshed.

The Turkish Foreign Minister acknowledged that US President Donald Trump has now prioritized ending the conflict, which he said increases the pressure to find a solution. He stressed, however, that without US involvement, Europe cannot provide sufficient security guarantees to Ukraine. A strong deterrent is needed to prevent a recurrence of the conflict, he noted.

Turkey's role as a mediator

Turkey, with NATO's second-largest army, has maintained channels of communication with both Kiev and Moscow since the outbreak of the war in 2022. It has supported Ukraine's territorial integrity and offered military assistance, while at the same time refraining from imposing sanctions against Russia.

Fidan reiterated Turkey's proposal to assume the role of guarantor in a potential agreement and stated that Ankara is willing to host a new round of peace talks, as had happened in 2022.

We must be confident that all sides, including Russia, will abide by any final agreement, he stressed.

The discussion of ending the war strengthens the geopolitical role of Turkey, which seems willing to actively contribute to shaping the new European security architecture. However, the details of any such mission still remain unclear.