Geopolitical Rebranding of the ‘New Syria’ amid the Turkey‐Gulf Rapprochement

Abstract In February 2026, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan traveled to Saudi Arabia and pledged to work with the kingdom on stabilizing and rebuilding post‐Assad Syria. The strategic alignment between Ankara and Riyadh, which had previously backed rival factions across the region, highlights how Syria's political transition is being shaped by regional rapprochement. This article argues that Turkey and key Gulf states can capitalize on their improved ties and pursue a two‐pronged division of labor: bolstering Syria's security sector through expanded partnerships and coordination, while mobilizing Gulf financing and Turkish operational capacity to accelerate reconstruction. The study traces Turkey's evolving security priorities toward the Kurdish‐led People's Protection Units and Syrian Democratic Forces, examines how Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have supported Syria's diplomatic reintegration, and analyzes emerging cooperation in training security forces, developing trade routes, and securing energy agreements. This article is part of a series on Turkey‐Gulf relations, guest edited by Hamdullah Baycar and Betul Dogan‐Akkas, based on the Gulf Studies Symposium organized by the Gulf International Forum, April 11–12, 2025, at Georgetown University in Washington.