Joint Statement from the US and Turkey: “Cooperation against Terrorism to Increase”
In a joint statement shared by Turkey and the US, it was stated that “Turkey and the US had restarted the Counterterrorism Consultations to increase cooperation against terrorism threatening their national securities.”
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks with his US counterpart Antony Blinken and US senators as part of his contacts in the US. Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Burak Akçapar also met with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell at the Turkey-US Strategic Mechanism Meeting. Following this, a joint statement was issued.
Highlighted points in the statement include:
* Ministers Fidan and Blinken reiterated their commitment to a forward-looking, results-oriented, bilateral positive agenda that allows progress on common goals and addresses emerging global challenges.
* The two ministers discussed strengthening Turkey-US relations in various areas including regional priorities, counterterrorism, defense cooperation, economic growth, trade, energy security, climate change, and people-to-people ties.
* The parties announced that they would explore opportunities to advance defense industry cooperation between the two countries.
* Turkey and the US, within the framework of the Strategic Mechanism, have restarted Turkey-US Counterterrorism Consultations to increase cooperation against terrorism posing threats to their national securities and to address networks involved in organized crime and drug trafficking.
Syria Agenda
* Ministers Fidan and Blinken discussed the Syrian crisis comprehensively and reiterated their commitment to a political process led by Syrians and embraced by Syrians within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Turkey and the US emphasized the importance of returning detainees linked to ISIS and displaced persons from northeastern Syria to their countries of origin, where they can be rehabilitated and reintegrated into their societies and brought to justice as necessary.
Gaza
* While emphasizing the importance of finding a way to end the conflict in Gaza and immediately overcome the humanitarian crisis, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to expanding and deepening economic cooperation through existing bilateral forums.
