Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Palmer and James Jeffrey, the United States Special envoy for Syria who also assumed the role of U.S. Special Envoy to the Global Coalition against IS will hold talks in Ankara, Hurriyet daily reported.
Palmer has arrived in Turkey and may have meetings until March 6, diplomatic sources told Hurriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity. Palmer is expected to focus on the issue of Turkey’s procurement of Russian air defense systems and the sale of US Patriot systems to Turkey.
Jeffrey arrived Ankara on late March 4 and his talks will focus on Syria, particularly on Manbij deal and the U.S. plans to withdraw from the war-torn country. Turkeyand the U.S. agreed on last year in June over a road map for the withdrawal of all YPG troops from Manbij to the east of Euphrates and for the establishment of a new city council by the local Arabs.
Turkey has long been criticizing the U.S. for prolonging the process.
In the past few weeks, Washington has been carrying on with a silent diplomacy for its accelerated pressure on Ankara for the cancellation of the S-400 deal. In February, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence conveyed the U.S.’s concerns to Ankara on behalf of President Donald Trump and asked Turkeyto abort its S-400 purchase.
Turkey officially signed a $2.5 billion agreement with Russia for the S-400s long-range anti-aircraft missile system.
The U.S. warns that the Russian S-400defense systems would jeopardize Turkey’s participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project.
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