Turkey aiming for maritime agreement with Syria, transport minister says

The maritime demarcation agreement would be in line with international law and would allow two countries to determine authorities for oil and hydrocarbon exploration.

By REUTERS DECEMBER 24, 2024 16:09

Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu addresses the audience during a signing ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, April 29, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/UMIT BEKTAS/FILE PHOTO)

Turkey is aiming to strike a maritime demarcation agreement with Syria after a permanent government is formed in Damascus, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on Tuesday.

Turkey, which backed Syrian rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad this month after a 13-year civil war, has been in close contact with the new interim administration of its neighbor, including Turkey's intelligence chief and foreign minister meeting with de-facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week said Ankara would improve ties with Syria, including in trade, energy, and defense.

Turkey is also planning to start negotiations with the new Syrian administration on a possible maritime demarcation agreement, Uraloglu told reporters.

"Of course an authority must first be established there... It will be on our agenda for sure, but it's hard to say that it's on today's agenda," Uraloglu said.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in Damascus, Syria, December 22, 2024. (credit: Turkish Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS)

Oil and Hydrocarbon exploration

The maritime demarcation agreement would be in line with international law and would allow two countries to determine authorities for oil and hydrocarbon exploration, the minister also said.