Ankara is forging a two-pronged defense partnership with Syria's new leaders, with immediate efforts focused on dismantling the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Turkey views as a significant national security threat. In the long term, Turkey aims to strengthen the Syrian army through military training, with the goal of solidifying its influence in the war-torn region.

"[Turkey] is engaging with its counterparts to establish strategic relations and foster cooperation in various fields following the operationalization of state institutions in Syria,” a high-level Turkish Defense Ministry official told reporters during a weekly briefing on Thursday. 

“Cooperation in the fields of defense and security is of critical importance not only for strengthening our security but also for ensuring regional peace and stability,” the official added. 

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, Turkish commentators and analysts have entertained various scenarios and outlined different domestic, regional and international considerations that will shape how Syria will fit into Ankara’s broader geopolitical vision.