U.S., Turkey talking about Syria
Mattis: Nations are finding some ‘common ground’
BRUSSELS — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday the United States and Turkey are having an open dialogue about their growing differences over the fight in Syria, and are “finding common ground.”
Speaking at the close of a NATO defense ministers meeting, Mattis presented a more calm and understated view of the escalating rhetoric over America’s continued aid to the U.s.-backed Kurdish rebels in Syria. Ankara considers those fighters a terrorist group.
“I believe we are finding common groundandthereareareasofuncommon ground where sometimes war just gives you bad alternatives to choose from,” Mattis said.
Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said he has asked that the U.S. end its support for the Kurdish fighters and remove them from U.S.backed Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, that is fighting the Islamic State group in Syria.
Canikli said he told Mattis that U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish militia, known as YPG, has helped Kurdish rebels in Turkey “to grow and strengthen,” posing an increasingly “existential” threat to Turkey.
Canikli said he presented documents to Mattis proving “organic” links between the YPG and Kurdish rebels in Turkey.
Mattis characterized the overall conversations as “absolutely open and honest dialogue.” And he insisted that the two countries are “coming together on what we can do together.”
There have been persistent tensions between the two allies over
U.S. support for the Kurdish rebels in Syria, and Turkey’s increasing military assault against Kurds in northern Syria.
Mattis has repeatedly called for a renewed focus on the campaign to defeat the Islamic State group, and prevent it from any resurgence.
Canikli said Mattis told him that the United States believed it was possible to ensure that the YPG turns against Kurdish rebels fighting in Turkey.
Canikli, however, said he rejected this assumption, insisting that it was “impossible and unrealistic” for the two entities to go against each other.
The Turkish minister also said that Mattis told him that the U.S. was working on plans to take back weapons supplied to the YPG.