US defence secretary meets Erdogan with focus on Syria, Iraq

Turkey is concerned about the YPG, which has vastly expanded the territory under its control in neighbouring Syria, as its seizes land from Islamic State.
The YPG is the main US ally on the ground in Syria, despite Turkey's protests. The US recently delivered a new batch of weapons to the YPG, which Turkey designates a terrorist organization.
Erdogan conveyed Turkey's concerns regarding US arms support to the YPG to Mattis, Anadolu reported. He also said that the referendum for Kurdish independence in Iraq would be a "wrong step."
Another of the current critical issues between the US and Turkey was the possible delivery of Russian S-400 air defence missile systems to Turkey. Erdogan and Mattis also discussed cooperation in the defence industry as NATO allies, Anadolu said.
The home-grown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is also operational in Iraq, has been fighting with the Turkish state for more than 30 years. In 2015, a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK broke down.
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