Turkey and Syria continue to deepen defense cooperation as both governments pursue closer coordination on regional security, military restructuring and defense modernization. The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced Thursday, May 7, that the Turkish warship TCG Meltem will make an official visit to Syria’s port of Latakia on May 11.
Turkish officials described the visit as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military cooperation between Ankara and Damascus. Turkish Defense Ministry spokesman Zeki Akturk said the visit would mark the vessel’s first trip to Latakia. He added the deployment aims to “strengthen military cooperation between Turkey and Syria and contribute to the restructuring of the Syrian armed forces.”
Akturk also said a delegation from the Turkish naval command plans to visit military training institutions in Latakia during the trip, an indication of Ankara’s growing role in supporting Syria’s military and security sectors.
The naval visit comes amid a series of high-level meetings between Syrian and Turkish defense officials over the past year, reflecting the diplomatic thaw in relations after years of political tensions linked to former Assad regime.
Defense Agreements Expand Cooperation
Military coordination between the countries accelerated after Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra visited Ankara in August alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Chief Hussein al-Salama. During the visit, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Abu Qasra signed a memorandum of understanding focused on military training and consulting cooperation.
According to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, the agreement aims to strengthen the capabilities of the Syrian army, develop military institutions and support broader reforms within Syria’s security sector. The latest diplomatic activity also included a meeting Thursday in Istanbul between Abu Qasra and Turkish Chief of General Staff Selcuk Bayraktaoglu.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the SAHA 2026 International Defense, Aviation and Space Industries Exhibition, one of the region’s largest defense industry events. Turkey’s General Staff confirmed the meeting in a statement accompanied by photographs but did not disclose details about the discussions.
SAHA Exhibition Highlights Regional Security Focus
The SAHA 2026 exhibition drew over 1,700 companies from more than 120 countries, according to organizers. The event spans an excess of 400,000 square meters including defense, aerospace and security manufacturers from around the world.
Turkish organizers said the exhibition seeks to increase Turkish defense export contracts to at least $8 billion this year, compared with approximately $6.2 billion recorded during the 2024 edition. A Syrian Interior Ministry delegation also attended the exhibition, led by Assistant Interior Minister Brig. Gen. Bassem Al-Mansour.
Syrian officials said the delegation reviewed modern defense technologies and discussed technical cooperation with international defense companies. The ministry said the participation reflects Syria’s efforts to modernize its logistical and technical systems while keeping pace with developments in security and defense technologies.
The growing pace of military and security coordination between Ankara and Damascus signals an expanding partnership as both governments seek greater regional stability and enhanced institutional cooperation.
