ISTANBUL (AP) – Vice President Joe Biden, who begins a two-night visit to Turkey on Friday, is the latest in a stream of U.S. officials who have traveled to Turkey to urge Ankara to step up its role in fighting Islamic State militants in neighboring Syria.
Some answers to questions about U.S.-Turkey relations:
Q: What is the major disagreement between Turkey and the United States regarding Syria?
A: The U.S. wants Turkey to do more to help the international coalition destroy and degrade IS in Syria and Iraq. Turkey, a chief critic of Syrian President Bashar Assad, believes that he is the root of the country’s problems and that extremist militants are only the symptom. Turkey is calling for a more comprehensive U.S. policy on Syria, which includes ending Assad’s rule. Turkey also is calling for a no-fly zone over northern Syria to allow moderate forces to regroup and recoup without having to worry about strikes from Assad’s air force. The U.S. says Iraq is its main focus right now, is not contemplating such a safe zone and supports a political transition in Syria that will not include Assad.
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