Germany DM: Turkiye became ‘vital player’ in Syria

Turkiye has emerged as a more important player in Syria after the collapse of the Ba’ath regime led by deposed President Bashar Al-Assad, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said yesterday.

In a statement after his meeting with the Kurdistan Region President (KRP), Nechirvan Barzani, in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil.

Pistorius said: “After the withdrawal of Iran and Russia from Syria, Turkiye, a NATO member state, has become a more important player than before in the region.”

On Sunday, Syrian opposition factions took control of the capital Damascus and other major cities, ending 61 years of Ba’ath Party rule and 53 years of the Assad family’s domination of Syria.

A statement issued by the KRP’s presidency said Barzani and Pistorius discussed the latest developments in Syria, the potential repercussions on the mission of the international coalition against Daesh, the situation in Iraq, and Berlin’s relations with Baghdad and Erbil.

Germany recently extended the mission of its soldiers serving in Iraq in the framework of the fight against Daesh until 31 January 2026, and set the maximum number of soldiers at 500.

WATCH: Understanding Germany’s unwavering support for Israel: MEMO in Conversation with Jurgen Mackert