BRUSSELS: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Ankara for discussions on the Syrian conflict, with no plans to extend her visit to other regional nations, according to European Commission Chief Spokeswoman Paula Pinho. The visit underscores Trkiye’s significant role in the region, highlighting the importance of its involvement in ongoing developments in Syria.
According to Anadolu Agency, Pinho addressed the media on Thursday, confirming von der Leyen’s itinerary would be restricted to Trkiye. She also mentioned that there was no current information on whether European Council President Antonio Costa or High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas would accompany von der Leyen on her visit. The focus of the discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be the situation in Syria, following the collapse of the Baath Party regime and the recent escape of Bashar Assad and his family to Russia.
The visit follows a phone conversation between v
on der Leyen and Erdogan on December 10, during which they discussed the ongoing conflict in Syria. The European Commission President is set to arrive in Trkiye early next week, aiming to address the implications of the recent power shift in Syria and explore potential regional solutions in collaboration with Turkish authorities.