Washington and Ankara issued a joint statement Tuesday calling for more coordination and cooperation in Syria and the fight against terrorist organizations. The U.S. welcomed Turkey to Washington for a new Syria Working Group conference, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau representing the U.S. and Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz representing Turkey.
Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Sedat Önal and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attended the talks. Turkey and the U.S. are determined to increase cooperation and coordination regarding stability and security in Syria as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his counterpart in the U.S., Donald Trump, stipulated in the joint statement.
“The U.S. and Türkiye envision Syria a stable and peaceful country with itself and its region, which will also enable millions of Syrian displaced people to go back home,”
said the statement.
Both nations understand the need to uphold the territorial integrity of Syria, it added:
“A stable and cohesive Syria, which does not provide a haven for terrorist groups, will contribute to regional security and prosperity.”
Türkiye and the U.S. have been closely cooperating militarily and economically for decades. Nevertheless, their relations have moved further apart from a strategic partnership in recent years as differences between the two historic treaty allies have grown larger.
The differences encompass the U.S.’ collaboration with the Syrian affiliate of the PKK terrorist group, the YPG, its approach to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), dissension regarding Ankara’s acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defense system and Washington’s imposition of sanctions against Türkiye.
After the meeting, the U.S. emphasized a “new era of partnership.” As per a State Department readout, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau highlighted the close U.S.-Türkiye bilateral relationship as a new era of partnership, promoting cooperation between our two countries on a wide array of issues to shared goals of peace, trade and commerce.”
After the meeting, the U.S. emphasized a “new era of partnership.” As per a State Department readout, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau highlighted the close U.S.-Türkiye bilateral relationship as a new era of partnership, promoting cooperation between our two countries on a wide array of issues to shared goals of peace, trade and commerce.”
Trump last week said he would remove the “brutal and crippling” sanctions imposed on Syria at the behest of Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an investment conference in Riyadh. The next day, Trump met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in a historic meeting in Saudi Arabia – the first such meeting between American and Syrian leaders in 25 years.
