Turkey and the United States held discussions in Ankara regarding developments in Syria, amidst ongoing military clashes between Turkish forces and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The talks were led by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and US Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass, focusing on the evolving situation in Syria.
The key point of contention between the two nations remains the US support for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the dominant faction within the SDF. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which both Turkey and the U.S. classify as a terrorist organization.
Turkey, through its coordination with the US and Russia, recently managed to halt local elections planned by the SDF-led self-administration in northern and eastern Syria.
Turkish sources indicated the talks also addressed the ongoing US military and logistical support for the SDF, the implications of a potential US withdrawal from northeastern Syria, and the US’ opposition to efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Syria.
