Turkey, Syria Strengthen Ties with Phosphate Deal

Turkey and Syria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on phosphate development, marking the latest step in their growing strategic partnership.

The agreement was signed between MTA IC, an affiliate of Turkey's General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), and Syria's General Directorate of Geology and Mineral Resources in Damascus.

Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the phosphate deal would expand bilateral energy and mining cooperation to phosphate resources, with the aim of moving towards a commercial agreement and developing a project covering phosphate production, field development, and construction of a railway linking fields to a port.

The two countries have already been working on electricity transmission, oil, and natural gas projects, as well as renewables. Bayraktar emphasized the potential for Turkish companies to continue investing in Syria's infrastructure, particularly in electricity generation and transmission.