ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received US Secretary of Defense James Mattis for a meeting in Ankara on Wednesday afternoon, where the two discussed the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, and Iran’s “malign influence in the region,” according to a US statement.
“They discussed the need for ongoing open and honest dialogue, the importance of territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq, and concern over Iran's malign influence in the region,” read a Pentagon statement.
The United States and Iran have had numerous diplomatic spats recently over the Iran nuclear deal and close encounters between their air and water crafts in the Gulf.
Turkey's state media Anadolu Agency reported the American and Turkish delegations met for more than one hour.
“Erdogan and Mattis reiterated their determination to fight against terror groups, including the PKK and Daesh, as well as to uphold the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq,” Anadolu wrote, citing a source speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Erdogan also reiterated that the Kurdistan Region’s planned September 25 referendum “to declare formal independence from Iraq would be a wrong step,” added the report.
There was no direct mention of the Kurdistan Region’s referendum in the US statement.
Also on Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on an official visit in Erbil, told Kurdish President Masoud Barzani that the referendum “is not a good idea,” but the move would have “nothing to do with our trade with this Region,” after being asked if Turkey would close its border with to its third-largest exporter of goods.
Regarding security issues, Mattis also met with his counterpart in Ankara Nurettin Canikli for the first time since the Turk was appointed minister last month.
The US defense press office had previously stated that Mattis would seek to collaborate on “legitimate security concerns, including the fight against the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party].”
The Americans and Turks are NATO allies, but have been divided over support of partnered ground forces in northern Syria. The US-led international coalition has supported the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), while Turkey has backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters.
Ankara believes the YPG are linked to the PKK — a "terrorist" organization, as designated by both countries. The YPG denies any organic links to the group.
“He [Mattis] also addressed Turkey's legitimate security concerns. Both expressed a shared interest for the two countries to create conditions for a more stable and secure region,” read Wednesday’s statement from the United States.
Anadolu reported its source as saying that Erdogan and Mattis “reiterated their determination to fight against terror groups, including the PKK and Daesh [ISIS].”
Turkish National Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Hakan Fidan and Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin were also present at the meeting, according to Anadolu.
The US delegation included its Ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, among others.
Mattis has been visiting capitals in the Middle East to discuss the fight against ISIS, previously Baghdad and Erbil and Tuesday, and Amman on Monday.
Mattis then departed for the Ukraine.
The US Special Envoy to the Coalition to Defeat ISIS Brett McGurk had accompanied Mattis on the previous stops, but not to Turkey. He has been a strong advocate for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and visited the Raqqa Civil Council in northern Syria multiple times. YPG comprises about half of the SDF alliance. McGurk last visited Ayn Issa in northern Syria on August 18.
On Wednesday McGurk posted photos while visiting the city of Tel Skof, north of Mosul, along with the US Consul General to Erbil Ken Gross, local leaders, and Christian clergy.
Updated on August 24 at 7:40 a.m. to reflect US statement and Anadolu reports
