Turkey’s ambassador to Syria, Nuh Yılmaz, presented his credentials to the country’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa 84 days after arriving in Damascus, a delay that critics say may reflect a strain in ties between Ankara and the new Syrian leadership.
The unusually long wait has attracted attention because Turkey was one of the main foreign backers of forces that helped topple Bashar al-Assad, yet its envoy had to wait nearly three months for the formal ceremony.
Nuh Yılmaz, Turkey’s newly appointed ambassador to Syria, seen during a UN meeting in New York.
Yılmaz was appointed on November 19, 2025, and arrived in Damascus on December 22. He formally presented his credentials 117 days after his appointment.
Ahmet Erozan, a retired ambassador and head of international relations for the opposition İYİ (Good) Party, said the delay reflected Turkey’s standing in Syria, arguing that Ankara had been made to wait despite its past support for the armed opposition.
Yılmaz had earlier submitted a copy of his credentials to Syrian interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on December 30, but the formal ceremony with al-Sharaa did not take place until weeks later.
Other countries completed the process more quickly. Lebanon’s ambassador presented credentials 47 days after appointment, Qatar’s after 50 days and the United Arab Emirates’ after 95 days.
The delay has coincided with signs of friction between Ankara and Damascus, especially over the new Syrian administration’s handling of Kurdish armed groups that Turkey considers security threats.
Last week Syria appointed Sipan Hemo, a commander in the Syrian Democratic Forces, as deputy defense minister under an integration agreement signed on January 29. The Syrian Democratic Forces is a US-backed Kurdish-led force that Turkey views as tied to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Turkish authorities are seeking Hemo under the name Semir Asu through an INTERPOL Red Notice. His appointment appeared to test Ankara’s influence in Damascus and drew attention because Turkish officials had previously signaled that such appointments would be subject to Syrian security screening.
When reports of Hemo’s possible appointment first emerged in February, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said positions under the integration process would be decided according to Syria’s own procedures and security checks. After the appointment was finalized, the ministry issued no further statement.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also did not address the matter in two press conferences last week.
