January 21, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Washington, D.C. / Ankara — In a high-level telephone call on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan focused on developments in Syria and Gaza, highlighting evolving geopolitical alignments in the Middle East as Syria’s transitional government consolidates control in its northeast and regional diplomacy intensifies.
According to official statements from the Turkish presidency, Erdoğan and Trump discussed the recent ceasefire between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced after days of clashes. Ankara affirmed it would continue coordinating with Washington on issues related to Gaza under the international “Board of Peace” initiative a mechanism envisioned to supervise governance and stabilization in Palestinian territories following a truce between Israel and Hamas under a Trump-brokered plan.
In comments following the call, Trump described the conversation as “very good,” though the U.S. and Turkish leaders did not publicly disclose detailed agreements. Erdoğan stressed that Syria’s territorial integrity, unity and harmony are important for Turkey, which views the SDF as linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and therefore regards it as a security threat.
The talks come at a time of rapid transformation in Syria’s landscape. The central government in Damascus has claimed progress in re-establishing control over areas previously held by the SDF, demanding the integration of Kurdish forces into state structures and challenging the basis of long-standing U.S.–SDF cooperation. This shift reflects deeper regional recalibrations as Arab states and external powers reassess their roles in Syria’s future.
Syria’s strategic position continues to draw attention from regional capitals. In recent years, middle Eastern states including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan and the UAE have participated in diplomatic and economic efforts to encourage Damascus’s reintegration into the Arab fold and post-conflict reconstruction, underscoring evolving views about sovereignty and regional stability.
The Trump–Erdoğan conversation also touched on ongoing cooperation against the Islamic State (Daesh) and related security concerns, including the status of detainees in northeastern Syria — a persistent point of tension between Ankara and Washington. Turkey’s cooperation or potential participation in multilateral initiatives like the Gaza “Board of Peace” suggests a willingness to engage with U.S. regional strategy despite disagreements.
Observers say the call reflects broader uncertainties in Middle East diplomacy, with the U.S. recalibrating its commitments in Syria, Turkey asserting influence over Kurdish affairs, and Arab states deepening political engagement with Damascus after years of conflict. As Trump and Erdoğan navigate these issues, the future of regional security frameworks and stabilization mechanisms in Syria, Palestine and beyond remains a central focus for global diplomacy.