US Vice President Joe Biden to visit Turkey next month


United States Vice President Joe Biden will visit Turkey on January 23, according to statement released by the White House on Wednesday, amid the ongoing fight against Daesh.Biden is adding a stop in Turkey to his previously announced trip to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum the week of Jan. 17. The White House says Biden will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.Turkey has been fighting against Daesh as part of US-led coalition. Turkey on Wednesday detained two suspected Daesh terrorists believed to be planning suicide attacks in the capital Ankara. The country has been a target for Daesh terrorists who strongly oppose President Erdoğan.

Biden is also expected to push further a dialogue between Turkey and Iraq over Turkish troops staged at a training camp in northern Iraq.

Vice President Joe Biden welcomed the reported withdrawal of Turkish troops from a camp in Iraq's Bashiqa region, the White House said earlier in December.Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu spoke with the U.S. Vice President over the phone on December 14 regarding the fight against Daesh and the recent developments in Iraq. Biden, in the call, said the move of Turkish troops from Camp Bashiqa was "an important step to de-escalate recent tensions," the White House said in a statement. "The Vice President encouraged the Turkish government to continue its dialogue with Baghdad on additional measures to improve relations between Turkey and Iraq," the White House said. "Both leaders [Davutoğlu and Biden] reaffirmed their commitment to Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity."