Turkish army chief, NATO general discuss Manbij roadmap

If the Manbij model is successfully implemented, eastern Syria could eventually become a joint US-Turkish zone of influence.

US troops look towards the border with Turkey from a small outpost near the town of Manbij, in northern Syria, February 17, 2018.
AP

US troops look towards the border with Turkey from a small outpost near the town of Manbij, in northern Syria, February 17, 2018.

Turkey's Chief of General Staff General Hulusi Akar and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Curtis Scaparotti on Wednesday discussed the Turkish-US Manbij roadmap over the phone.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Turkish General Staff Akar and Scaparrotti also addressed the security situation in the north of Syria and security issues related to the Manbij-focused roadmap.

The Manbij roadmap was announced after a meeting in Washington last week between Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and on stability in the region.

Should the model prove a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.

If the Manbij model is successfully implemented, eastern Syria could eventually become a joint US-Turkish zone of influence.

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