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Turkey delegation heads to US to discuss Syria sanctions relief: What to know

The talks will follow a landmark meeting between the United States, Syria and Turkish and Saudi leaders.

Fidan, Rubio, Al Shibani
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) at the NEST International Convention Center in Antalya on May 15, 2025. — Umit Bektas/AFP/Getty

ANKARA — Turkish and US officials are expected to discuss a road map as part of the Trump administration’s plans to remove sanctions on Syria in Washington on Tuesday, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Monday.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and his US counterpart, Christopher Landau, will lead the delegation during the inter-agency talks, the source told journalists.

The discussions follow US President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement in Riyadh on May 13 that he would lift sanctions on Syria. Trump made the remarks during his Gulf tour, a day before he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also joined the meeting, the latter via video link. 

Turkish and US officials on Tuesday are expected to discuss the timeline to be followed as part of the Trump administration’s plan to lift sanctions, the source said.

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