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Turkey-US talks begin in Ankara amid rising tension US hails Turkey as 'a trusted ally' in Ankara talks
(about 3 hours later)
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is meeting Turkish leaders in Ankara amid deteriorating relations between the two Nato allies. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has described Turkey as a trusted ally after meeting its leaders in Ankara.
They are at odds over US backing for Kurdish fighters in Syria and Turkish demands for America to extradite anti-government cleric Fethullah Gulen. His visit comes amid worsening relations between the two Nato allies.
Continuing tensions within Nato are also likely to be on the agenda. Speaking after meeting his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, Mr Tillerson said the US wanted strong links between the two countries.
The meeting comes as Turkey angrily criticised the arrest of a leading Turkish banker in the US. They are at odds over US backing for Kurdish fighters in Syria and Turkish demands for Washington to extradite anti-government cleric Fethullah Gulen.
"In the United States, the people of Turkey have a trusted ally and a partner who is committed to its safety and security, and advancing economic opportunity," Mr Tillerson said.
"We look forward to approaching these challenges together, and the Trump administration will continue to build ties with this long-standing ally and our friend."
Mr Tillerson said Turkey was an important ally of the US in the battle against the group known as Islamic State (IS) and the two countries agreed on the importance of lessening the disruptive influence of Iran in the Middle East.
The secretary of state's visit comes amid continuing tensions within Nato and as Turkey angrily criticised the arrest of a leading Turkish banker in the US.
Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a top official of the state-owned Halkbank, was detained on Tuesday on charges of helping Iran evade US sanctions.Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a top official of the state-owned Halkbank, was detained on Tuesday on charges of helping Iran evade US sanctions.
Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said the case was designed to tarnish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said the case was designed to tarnish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mr Tillerson is the most senior US official to travel to Turkey since President Donald Trump was sworn in in January.Mr Tillerson is the most senior US official to travel to Turkey since President Donald Trump was sworn in in January.
He is holding discussions with President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on numerous issues including the Syrian conflict.
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Mr Tillerson's visit comes as Turkey announced that it had "successfully" ended its seven-month Euphrates Shield military campaign in northern Syria.Mr Tillerson's visit comes as Turkey announced that it had "successfully" ended its seven-month Euphrates Shield military campaign in northern Syria.
The two sides do not always see eye-to-eye over the Syrian war - disagreements are growing, principally over who should be involved in retaking the stronghold of Raqqa from the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. One of Turkey's main grievances with the US is the policy started by the Obama administration of supporting Kurdish fighters in Syria who are fighting IS forces.
One of Turkey's main grievances with America is the policy started by the Obama administration of supporting Kurdish fighters in Syria who are fighting IS forces. Turkey views the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a "terror group" linked to Kurdish separatists waging an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984.
Turkey views the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a "terror group" linked to Kurdish separatists waging an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984, but the US regards them as the most effective force taking on IS. The two sides are also at loggerheads over Fethullah Gulen. Mr Cavusoglu said that he expected Washington to take "concrete steps" to extradite him.
The two sides are also at loggerheads over Fethullah Gulen.
Turkey accuses the cleric of orchestrating last July's failed coup. Officially the US insists any decision on returning him to Turkey remains a judicial - rather than a political - decision.Turkey accuses the cleric of orchestrating last July's failed coup. Officially the US insists any decision on returning him to Turkey remains a judicial - rather than a political - decision.
But President Trump's former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was reported on Saturday to have discussed removing Mr Gulen from the US, using removal methods that went beyond the legal extradition process.