Turkey to reopen borders with Syria, facilitating refugee returns

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated that Turkey has no intentions of territorial expansion or violating the sovereignty of other nations.

Speaking in Ankara on Monday, Erdoğan emphasized Turkey’s readiness to contribute to Syria’s stability. “Together, we can overcome the challenges,” he stated.

He announced plans to reopen Turkey’s borders with Syria, facilitating the voluntary and safe return of refugees, while stressing that Syrians alone should shape their country’s future.

“Our role is to support Syrians in rebuilding their homeland. The era of darkness in Syria is over, and a brighter chapter has begun,” Erdoğan declared.

He underscored that Turkey’s cross-border operations aimed solely to eliminate threats of terrorism, vowing to prevent any resurgence of "terrorist" elements near Turkish borders.

“The winds of change in Syria promise a brighter future for its people,” he remarked, expressing optimism that stability would encourage more refugees to return home.

Erdoğan also highlighted Turkey’s longstanding role as a sanctuary for Syrians fleeing conflict.

“Syrians, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds, are our brothers and sisters,” he concluded.