Turkey proposed Turkish, US troops station together in Syria’s Manbij: Report

ISTANBUL

Turkey has proposed to the United States that People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants withdraw to east of the Euphrates River in Syria and that Turkish and U.S. troops be stationed together in the country’s Manbij area, Reuters reported on Feb. 16, citing a Turkish official.

The official, who declined to be identified because the information had not been made public, said the United States was considering the proposal, which was made to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his two-day visit to Ankara, the agency’s report read. 

Tillerson arrived in Turkey on Feb. 15 for two days of what officials have said would likely be uncomfortable discussions between the NATO allies, whose relations have frayed over a number of issues, particularly U.S. support for the YPG, seen as terrorists by Turkey for its links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which the U.S., too, considers a terrorist organization.

Tillerson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Feb. 15 had a “productive and open” discussion on improving ties, a U.S. State Department spokesman travelling with Tillerson said.