US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (Photo: trtworld.com)

The two agreed on the importance of continuing US-Turkish consultations as part of the deliberate and coordinated withdrawal of US forces from Syria. Pompeo reiterated to Cavusoglu the US commitment to addressing Turkish security concerns along the Turkey-Syria border. He emphasized the importance that the US places on the protection of the People's Protection Units (YPG).

US National Security Adviser John Bolton last week said the US would not pull it troops out of Syria unless the Turkish government ensures not to attack YPG group. Relations between the two Nato allies have been strained over US backing for the Kurdish YPG, which Turkey views as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).