Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Tillerson in Turkey amid Washington's support for YPG, tense relations

by Daily Sabah

ISTANBUL Feb 15, 2018 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah Feb 15, 2018 12:00 am

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected to arrive in Turkey today for meetings with top Turkish officials to discuss recently strained relations due to U.S. support for PKK-affiliated groups in northern Syria.

Tillerson's visit comes amid Turkey's Operation Olive Branch targeting the PKK's Syrian affiliate Democratic Union Party's (PYD) People's Protection Units (YPG) forces in northwestern Syria's Afrin region.

Tillerson said yesterday the U.S. needs to find a way to work "in the same direction" as its NATO ally Turkey

"Turkey is still an important NATO ally of the United States ... and we need to find a way to continue to work in the same direction," Tillerson said while in Amman, Jordan.

Despite Tillerson previously making similar statements, ambiguous and contradictory remarks from the White House, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the State Department on Washington's position regarding the YPG, will probably raise questions for Turkish officials on Tillerson's credibility.

In November, U.S. President Donald Trump promised to halt weapons deliveries to the YPG in a phone call with President Erdoğan. However, a couple days after Trump's promise, the Pentagon sent more armored vehicles to YPG-controlled areas in northern Syria and continued its deliveries. U.S. Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk, who paid a visit to U.S. forces in Manbij in early February went even further and said that the U.S. would retaliate against Turkey to protect their YPG allies, if Ankara expands Operation Olive Branch into Manbij and attacks.

Ahead of the visit, Foreign Minister Mevüt Çavuşoğlu said yesterday that those who want to cooperate with Turkey in Syria should have a clear stance and show sensitivity to a po

litical solution for the war-torn country. "More importantly, they should respect Syria's territorial integrity and cease support to terrorists groups that want to divide the country," Çavuşoğlu said at a meeting of the global coalition against Daesh in Kuwait.

  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    homepage
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    A look back at 2 weeks of COP26 summit
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021