A surprise trip could reshape regional alignments. Expect leaders to seize rare bilateral talks on security and reconstruction.

Ahmed Ash-Sharaa, the president of Syria, plans to visit Ankara at the same time Turkey hosts the NATO summit.

According to Bloomberg, citing sources, this visit will not have a direct link to the summit, but will allow Alliance leaders to discuss with him regional security, counterterrorism, and Syria’s reconstruction. There is no official information about the trip at this time.

Although Ash-Sharaa’s visit will not be directly linked to the summit, meetings on its sidelines could strengthen the international standing of the Syrian leader… Some Alliance leaders may wish to discuss with him issues of regional security, counterterrorism, and Syria’s reconstruction after years of civil war.

– Bloomberg

After the removal of Bashar al-Assad from power at the end of 2024, Syria was led by Ash-Sharaa, who positions himself as a more moderate Islamist.

The United States and Europe seek to bring Damascus closer to the West and curb the influence of Iran and Russia – Assad’s former allies.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump voiced disagreement with Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah and suggested that Syria could more effectively neutralize the group, backed by Iran.

However, Ash-Sharaa said that Damascus could contribute to stability in Lebanon by strengthening state institutions and developing closer ties with Hezbollah, but ruled out military intervention. His forces had previously weakened the influence of Iran-linked groups in Syria, and Assad’s removal disrupted one of the key routes for Iranian weapons to Hezbollah.

Syria faces numerous obstacles on the road to recovery after years of civil war.

According to Bloomberg, President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the eve of the NATO Summit, said that Ukraine and its partners need closer security and defense cooperation and urged partners to prepare strong decisions for the summit, which is planned to be held in Ankara on July 7–8.

Context of Regional Dynamics

Ankara is hosting a variety of meetings against a backdrop of heightened attention to stability in the Middle East and Syria’s role in the region, where the United States and the European Union are seeking ways to engage Damascus in joint efforts against terrorism and to curb the influence of Iran and Russia.