Biden mends fences with Turkey, at the expense of Kurdish forces in Syria

US Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey on 24 August 2016, aiming to ease tensions which had been growing since the 15 July coup attempt.

Several topics were on the agenda, including the fight against terrorism, the Syrian conflict and the demands made by Turkish authorities for the US to extradite Fethullah Gülen, considered by Turkey's government as the mastermind behind the coup attempt.

On the same day Turkish troops and Syrian rebels drove the IS out of the strategically important border city of Jarabulus. With this US-backed offensive Ankara was above all hoping to stop the advance of the Kurds in Syria, commentators suggested.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: The amazing speed of Turkey’s foreign policy U-turn http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-amazing-speed-of-turkeys-foreign-policy-u-turn/

ESO: Background Information: US moves nuclear weapons from Turkey to Romania http://www.europeansources.info/record/us-moves-nuclear-weapons-from-turkey-to-romania/

Hürriyet Daily News, 24.08.16: [Opinion] Time for Turkey and the US to rebuild trust http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/time-for-turkey-and-the-us-to-rebuild-trust.aspx?pageID=449&nID=103165

TRT World, 24.08.16: Biden: US has no interest in protecting Gülen http://www.trtworld.com/americas/biden-us-has-no-interest-in-protecting-gulen-171381

TIME, 22.08.16: [Opinion] The U.S. and NATO Need Turkey http://time.com/4457369/the-u-s-and-nato-need-turkey/

Deutsche Welle, 24.08.16: Biden: US had no prior knowledge of Turkey coup http://dw.com/p/1JoSY

The Guardian, 24.08.16: Turkey and US unite to oust Isis and curb Kurds https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/24/turkey-and-us-unite-to-oust-isis-curb-kurds-syria

Euronews, 24.08.16: Biden reassures Erdogan but Turkey-US tensions persist over Gulen http://www.euronews.com/2016/08/24/biden-reassures-erdogan-but-turkey-us-tensions-persist-over-gulen

BBC News, 24.08.16: What will US vice-president find in Turkey? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37167640

The Guardian, 24.08.16: Turkey requests extradition of Fethullah Gülen but not for coup attempt, says US https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/23/turkey-fethullah-gulen-extradition-request-joe-biden-ergodan

Haaretz, 24.08.16: U.S. Sides With Turkey: Kurdish Militias Must Retreat East of Euphrates http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/turkey/1.738466

The Wall Street Journal, 24.08.16: Joe Biden Attempts to Smooth Relations With Turkey http://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-biden-will-attempt-to-smooth-relations-with-turkey-1472027057

Politico, 24.08.16: Joe Biden’s Turkey tightrope http://www.politico.eu/article/joe-biden-turkey-coup-ankara-erdogan-isil/

Euro|Topics: Debates, August 2016: What is Ankara's goal in Syria? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/164972/what-is-ankara-s-goal-in-syria

Turkey: Presidency of the Republic of Turkey: News, 25.08.16: Our biggest priority is the extradition of FETO leader as soon as possible' https://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/news/542/51063/bizim-icin-en-buyuk-oncelik-fetonun-elebasinin-ulkemize-en-kisa-zamanda-iadesidir.html

---