Turkey-Syria Naval Cooperation: Turkish Admirals Agree Roadmap in Latakia to Rebuild Syrian Navy

Turkey and Syria have taken a concrete step in naval cooperation, with a Turkish delegation of three rear admirals and representatives of state-owned defence company ASFAT visiting the Syrian port city of Latakia and agreeing a roadmap to strengthen the Syrian Navy. Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence (MSB) announced the visit on its official X account on October 23, 2026.

What the Turkish delegation agreed in Latakia

According to the ministry, the visit took place within the framework of bilateral military relations with the Syrian Naval Forces Command and was aimed at increasing that command’s means and capabilities. The delegation carried out on-site assessments in Latakia covering ship maintenance, repair and modernisation, the construction of new vessels, individual and team training, and the development of port infrastructure. The MSB said an understanding and a roadmap were established as a result.

The ministry did not disclose a timeline, a budget, or which Syrian vessels or facilities would be involved first.

Why ASFAT’s presence matters

ASFAT is the MSB-affiliated company that manages the ministry’s military factories and shipyards, and it has acted as prime contractor in Turkish naval export projects, including the MILGEM-based corvette programme for Pakistan. Its participation, alongside the commander of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard and the navy’s logistics chief, suggests that industrial work such as refits and possible shipbuilding is being considered, not only training. The inclusion of the head of naval education and training points to a parallel effort to train Syrian crews and maintenance teams.

Background: a widening Ankara–Damascus defence relationship

The visit follows a port call in Latakia on July 13, 2026, when Turkish Naval Forces Commander Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu led a delegation, with the frigate TCG Istanbul, at the invitation of Syrian Navy Commander Brig. Gen. Mohammed Al-Saud. Turkish media described it as the first Turkish naval visit to Syria since the civil war. Ankara and Damascus had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding on military training and consultancy in August 2025, as Turkey supports the restructuring of Syria’s armed forces.

What to watch next

Key indicators will be whether the roadmap leads to formal contracts for ASFAT or Turkish shipyards, the arrival of Turkish training teams in Syria, and any upgrades at Latakia’s naval facilities. Russia, which maintains a naval presence at Tartus further south, will also be watching how Turkey’s role on Syria’s coast develops.

Featured image: Karaahmet / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons