Pentagon chief Mattis to visit Turkey

U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis will visit Turkey on Aug. 23 to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Defense Nurettin Canikli, and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. Mattis will discuss crucial matters during his one-day visit.

Pentagon made a statement regarding the visit on Aug. 18 : "Secretary Mattis will emphasize the steadfast commitment of the United States to Turkey as a NATO ally and strategic partner, seek to collaborate on efforts to advance regional stability, and look for ways to help Turkey address its legitimate security concerns - including the fight against the PKK."

According to public opinion, the non-binding independence referendum planned to be held on Sept. 25 in Iraqi Kurdish regional government will not be conducted without the approval of the United States. In case the northern Iraq declares independence, local elections will be held in October in the so-called cantons controlled by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)-affiliated Democratic Union Party (PYD) terrorists in northern Syria. These two critical issues will bring up the establishment of a de facto Kurdish region. Ankara will convey to Mattis that this is unacceptable and against its security. It will be pointed out that the countries in the region are against these developments, and independence will trigger a civil war.

Mattis will file a report regarding the PYD crisis in the visit which will be carried out directly after the Tal Afar operation.

US’s PYD irony

The U.S. every month sends Turkey a report of the arms that they deliver to the PKK-affiliated People’s Protection Units (YPG). The latest report stated that U.S. provided YPG only with armored vehicles and equipment, not with weapons and ammunition. Mattis will file a comprehensive report regarding the PYD crisis during his visit to Ankara, according to reports.

Turkey and Russia were both perturbed after the United States advanced towards the southern Syria with the PYD by crossing the western Euphrates, and broadened its area of dominance. A new crises emerged particularly after the al-Qaeda-linked Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) shifted the balances in Idlib, and signaled an operation in Idlib. It is necessary for Turkey to launch a military operation in Idlib in order to prevent the growth of the HTS, U.S. press reported. This led to criticisms such as “Is Turkey put forward as a land force in the field?” The meeting with Mattis will also address the possible Idlib operation.

The U.S. and NATO states were disturbed by the S-400 missiles that Turkey will purchase from Russia. Stating that the S-400 defense systems will never be interoperated in the NATO system, “Do they [Turkey] actually employ it?” Mattis said. Mattis is expected to share the U.S. government’s opinion on this issue.