Msocow: As part of closely watched negotiations in Moscow aimed at thawing relations between Ankara and Damascus, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met with the defence ministers of Turkey, Syria, and Iran on Tuesday.

Russia's defence ministry stated that all four nations had reiterated their "desire to preserve Syria's territorial integrity and the need to intensify efforts for the swift return of Syrian refugees to their homeland" in a readout that was made public after the meeting.

As part of a growing normalisation of relations between Ankara and Damascus, the defence ministers of Turkey, Syria, and Russia, as well as their respective intelligence chiefs, met on Wednesday in Moscow.

Also Read: Rearrest of a dissident journalist by Iranian authorities

According to experts, the meeting indicates that a potential ground operation by Turkiye into northern Syria is not currently on the agenda. However, there is also a chance that, with Russian consent for airspace use, the Turkish and Syrian militaries could carry out limited airstrikes against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia.

The meeting was attended by Ali Mahmoud Abbas, Hulusi Akar, and Sergey Shoigu, the Russian defence minister. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict 11 years ago, this was the first time the defence ministers of Syria and Turkey had ever met.

Also Read:  Ex dictator Omar al Bashir of Sudan went to a military hospital Prior to engaging in combat

Russia has long advocated for peace between Damascus and Ankara, which has stationed troops on the territory of its neighbour while supporting rebels working to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The meeting's main topics were the refugee crisis and Syria, as well as our shared fight against extremist organisations. According to Turkiye's Defence Ministry, the discussions were held in a "constructive atmosphere."

We want Syria, Turkey, and Russia to take a step as a trio, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on December 15. Erdogan also faces parliamentary and presidential elections in 2023. To do this, intelligence agencies should come together, then ministers of defence, and finally ministers of foreign affairs. We, the leaders, could then convene.

In the midst of the ongoing economic crisis, the Turkish government is facing intense domestic pressure to send back Syrian refugees, whose official number has reached 3.7 million. Trilateral meetings between the parties are anticipated to continue.

Also Read:  German air force intercepts three Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea

The meeting, according to Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International, was a step towards establishing new guidelines for conflict management and de-escalation and could speed up political and diplomatic progress.

Given the priority of the refugee issue for the Turkish side, according to Lund, it was likely brought up very early on and was probably also discussed in the earlier meetings with the intelligence chiefs.