ANKARA/WASHINGTON: Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin held a phone call to address recent developments in Syria and broader regional security issues, Türkiye’s Defence Ministry reported.
The conversation took place on Sunday, just hours after the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which had ruled for decades.
During the call, Guler and Austin also discussed ongoing bilateral defence issues, emphasizing the need for continued cooperation. Austin expressed the US’s focus on closely monitoring the statements and actions of Syrian opposition groups.
Both officials stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination between the US and Türkiye to avoid further escalation in Syria. Their aim is to protect US forces and partners, as well as ensure the success of the Defeat-ISIS Mission.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Defence, Patrick Ryder, said: “Secretary Austin acknowledged Türkiye’s legitimate security concerns and discussed the risks posed by ISIS and other destabilizing actors in the region.”
Both sides reiterated the importance of strengthening regional cooperation to address the complex challenges currently facing the region.
