Erdogan courts ‘terrorist’ Assad amid pressure to solve Turkey’s ‘Syrian problem’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly been reaching out to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who he once denounced as a ‘terrorist’, as he looks to address Turkey’s ongoing challenges with Syria. The move comes amidst increasing domestic and international pressure on Erdogan to resolve the ‘Syrian problem’—a constellation of issues including the continued presence of over 3.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, ongoing territorial disputes in northern Syria, and national security concerns related to Kurdish fighters and ISIS militants in the region. While there’s no reported agreement or deal between the two leaders yet, this step indicates a significant shift in Erdogan’s stance towards Assad and the Syrian conflict.