US official in official visit to Turkey

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, arrived in Ankara earlier today, marking the first official to the country by a US official in the Trump administration.

During his one day visit, Tillerson held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Issues such as the US assault on Syria’Raqqa, the last Daesh stronghold in Syria, and the deportation of Fethullah Gulen from America dominated the talks.

Addressing a joint news conference with Turkey’s foreign minister, Tillerson revealed: “What we discussed today are options that are available to us. They are difficult options. Let me be very frank, it’s not easy, they are difficult choices that have to be made.”

The visit comes just a day after Turkey announced the end of “Operation Euphrates Shield”, its military campaign in Syria launched for the purpose of fighting Daesh and ensuring its future stability.

Read: US should refrain from relying on PYD/YPG: Turkish FM

The relationship between Turkey and the US has become strained recently due to the willingness of the US to work with and support the Kurdish YPG militia which Turkey sees as a branch of the PKK which it deems a terrorist group.

Tillerson underlined Turkey’s “important role” in regional security, but also emphasised the need for Kurdish military cooperation in the fight against Daesh.

The US’ refusal to hand over Gulen, who the Turkish government accuses of being behind last year’s coup attempt, has also hindered relations.