Turkish Defense Minister, Acting Pentagon Chief Discuss Security Issues - Reports

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 29th May, 2019) Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan have recently had a phone conversation during which they discussed matters related to security and bilateral cooperation, Turkish media reported on Wednesday, citing the country's Defense Ministry.

The phone conversation took place on Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency.

On April 17, Shanahan and Akar held negotiations in Washington after the United States halted shipments under the F-35 fighter jet program over Ankara's decision to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems.

Moreover, relations between Turkey and the United States have been strained due to the situation regarding the status of Syrian Kurds. Ankara claims that Kurdish militias operating in the north of Syria pose a threat to national security and criticizes Washington for sending military supplies to these groups.

In January 2018, Turkey launched a military operation in Syria's Afrin against the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units, which Ankara regards as an affiliate of a Kurdish militia that it considers a terrorist group.

Turkey is one of the participants in the US F-35 jet program but has received threats of sanctions for its planned acquisition of the S-400s, as well as repeated threats that the sale of F-35 aircraft could be delayed or canceled altogether. Hulusi, in turn, has argued that Turkey complies with all of its commitments under the program and expects the United States to do the same.