U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Dec. 12, where Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and unity. In addition to Syria, they also discussed bilateral relations, and other global and regional matters, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate. Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s determination to deal with the security threat posed by the Turkish-based separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and the Syrian-based PYD/YPG, as well as ISIS operating in Syria. Erdogan also called on the international community to support Syria’s institutional revival and reconstruction.
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, the discussions highlighted U.S.-Turkish regional cooperation and support for a “Syrian-led and Syrian-owned” political transition toward an accountable and inclusive government. Blinken reiterated the importance of respecting human rights, protecting civilians, including minorities, and upholding international humanitarian laws. He also emphasized the need to facilitate humanitarian aid and ensure the coalition’s continued mission to defeat ISIL.
