Turkish, US defence chiefs mull Syria, regional security in phone call
On December 24, Turkish National Defence Minister Yashar Guler and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin held a phone call to address key regional defence and security matters, with a particular focus on Syria.
According to Türkiye's National Defence Ministry, the two leaders also took the opportunity to discuss the state of bilateral relations, per Caliber.Az.
Millî Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler ve ABD Savunma Bakanı Lloyd James Austin, 24 Aralık 2024 tarihinde bir telefon görüşmesi gerçekleştirmiştir.
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) December 24, 2024
Görüşmede, ikili ilişkiler ile Suriye başta olmak üzere bölgesel savunma ve güvenlik konuları ele alınmıştır.#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı… pic.twitter.com/Do5glwud2H
The call comes amid significant changes in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime earlier this month.
For years, the US has partnered with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against Daesh, despite strong objections from Türkiye. The SDF is led by the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK, which is classified as a terrorist organization by both the US and Türkiye. This alliance has fueled tensions between the two NATO allies.
Since Assad's fall, clashes have intensified between the SDF and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army. Türkiye reopened its embassy in Damascus on December 21, just two days after its intelligence chief visited the Syrian capital.
The collapse of Assad’s regime came after a rapid offensive by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which quickly seized control of several cities, ultimately reaching Damascus. Assad fled to Russia as opposition forces advanced, marking the dramatic end of his rule, which had sparked Syria's brutal civil war following his crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011. The sudden downfall of the regime has prompted celebrations both within Syria and internationally.
By Tamilla Hasanova