Turkey, Syria Establish 24/7 Communication Channel

Türkiye, Syria move to set up 24/7 communication bridge

Türkiye and Syria are planning to establish a round-the-clock communication coordination mechanism designed to serve as a permanent bridge between the two neighboring countries, Turkish Presidential Communications Deputy Director Ferhat Pirincci announced Thursday.

The announcement followed high-level talks in Damascus, where a Turkish delegation met with Syrian officials to discuss joint efforts and institutional cooperation in communication. The Turkish team included Ambassador to Damascus Nuh Yilmaz and senior officials from the Presidency of Communications, who held discussions with Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mustafa.

The meeting marks a significant step in normalizing relations between the two countries, which have experienced tensions throughout Syria’s prolonged civil conflict that began in 2011.

Ambassador Yilmaz highlighted that Syria has recently navigated a critical period after years of internal strife, during which it faced intense disinformation campaigns. These campaigns were particularly prevalent during Syria’s operations against the PKK terrorist organization and in relation to developments in the coastal region and Sweida, a province in southwestern Syria.

“Türkiye has long faced similar disinformation campaigns and has developed significant experience and capacity in this field,” Yilmaz stated, emphasizing the potential for knowledge sharing between the two nations.

The discussions centered on aligning positions to combat disinformation more effectively, with both sides exploring various cooperation avenues including training programs, institutional capacity building, and joint working mechanisms.

Pirincci characterized the visit by the broad Turkish delegation as “an important step” in bilateral relations. He emphasized that one of the most significant outcomes was the decision to establish “a continuous and clear coordination mechanism” between the two nations’ communication institutions.

The planned mechanism will facilitate regular communication, mutual exchange of expertise, and closer cooperation in critical areas including combating disinformation, media perception management, public diplomacy, and crisis communication.

This development comes amid Türkiye’s broader regional approach, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently described as seeking “brotherhood, not influence” in the region. The communication bridge represents a practical application of this philosophy, potentially helping to rebuild trust between Damascus and Ankara after years of strained relations.

The timing of this initiative is particularly significant as both countries face similar challenges in information warfare and public perception management. Syria continues to work toward stability after years of conflict that has fragmented the country and displaced millions of citizens, while Türkiye deals with its own regional security concerns and information challenges.

Regional analysts note that improved communication channels between Türkiye and Syria could contribute to more coordinated responses to mutual threats, particularly regarding border security and terrorism. The mechanism may also facilitate better humanitarian coordination in regions affected by the devastating earthquake that struck both countries in 2023.

The Turkish delegation also visited the Damascus Book Fair during their trip, signaling interest in cultural exchange as part of the broader normalization process.

This communication initiative represents one of the most concrete steps toward cooperation between the two countries in recent years and could potentially serve as a model for similar arrangements with other nations in the region facing comparable challenges with disinformation.

As both countries work to implement this new mechanism, observers will be watching closely to see how it might influence other aspects of the complex Turkish-Syrian relationship, including refugee issues, territorial disputes, and economic cooperation that have remained contentious since the outbreak of Syria’s civil conflict.