Turkey and US resume Syria talks with focus on Manbij
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkey and the US have resumed talks regarding their operations in Syria, with Manbij a primary focus of their discussions.
A US delegation is in Ankara for the second working group talks, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy told reporters, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
According to the Turkish outlet, the meeting is to review a draft proposal for the withdrawal of Kurdish forces, the YPG, from Manbij and bringing the city under joint Turkish-American control.
The Turkey-US working group was established after a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and former US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in February. The goal was to restore relations between the NATO allies and relieve tensions over Turkey’s opposition to US support for the Kurds in Rojava.
Turkey considers the YPG and the political party PYD branches of the PKK, a named terror organization, and has criticized US support for the groups in the war against ISIS in northern Syria.
Ankara has threatened to extend its military operations in northern Syria to Manbij where they risk entering a confrontation with US forces stationed in the city.
A US military and political delegation visited Manbij last week. According to the Manbij Military Council, the allies discussed their ongoing coordination and maintaining security.
Cavusoglu is expected to travel to Washington to meet with new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on June 4.
A US delegation is in Ankara for the second working group talks, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy told reporters, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
According to the Turkish outlet, the meeting is to review a draft proposal for the withdrawal of Kurdish forces, the YPG, from Manbij and bringing the city under joint Turkish-American control.
The Turkey-US working group was established after a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and former US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in February. The goal was to restore relations between the NATO allies and relieve tensions over Turkey’s opposition to US support for the Kurds in Rojava.
Turkey considers the YPG and the political party PYD branches of the PKK, a named terror organization, and has criticized US support for the groups in the war against ISIS in northern Syria.
Ankara has threatened to extend its military operations in northern Syria to Manbij where they risk entering a confrontation with US forces stationed in the city.
A US military and political delegation visited Manbij last week. According to the Manbij Military Council, the allies discussed their ongoing coordination and maintaining security.
Cavusoglu is expected to travel to Washington to meet with new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on June 4.