In a highly significant development, sources indicate that the long-awaited meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Syrian President Bashar Assad is set to take place in Moscow. Both leaders have expressed their intentions to support normalization and engage in a series of talks in recent months, sparking ongoing discussions about the location for this crucial meeting.

President Erdogan recently announced his plan to offer Türkiye as a potential venue for the talks, inviting Assad or proposing a third country as an alternative. Additionally, Iraq has expressed its desire to host the meeting in the capital city of Baghdad.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the first meeting between Erdogan and Assad is scheduled to be conducted in Moscow, with Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to mediate the talks. There is also a possibility of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani being invited to attend. The meeting is anticipated to take place sometime in August.

While the withdrawal of Turkish forces is not considered a precondition for the meeting, it has been agreed upon that the issue will be discussed at a later stage with the aim of eventually achieving a resolution. Trade will be a top priority during the initial meeting, as trade activities have reportedly already commenced through Abu Zindan.

Iraq, as a neighboring country, has maintained close contact with the Assad regime since 2011. Prime Minister Al Sudani views the Erdogan-Assad rapprochement as an opportunity to play a role as a regional mediator, as he has previously facilitated talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, this meeting would boost Al Sudani's leadership aspirations ahead of elections in Iraq.

Notably, while the source indicated that Iran may be excluded from the new process between Ankara and Damascus, this claim has not been confirmed by diplomatic sources. It is essential to consider that diplomatic sources have also rejected recent claims regarding the meeting location, asserting that Moscow is not the final venue for the discussions.

Efforts are now underway to finalize the details of the Erdogan-Assad meeting, which holds significant implications for the future of relations between Turkey and Syria. As the two leaders prepare to engage in talks, the international community eagerly awaits the outcome and potential progress on various fronts.