On 2 February, Turkish President Erdoğan’s and US President Joe Biden’s top security advisors spoke on the phone for the first time, since the inauguration of Biden on 20 January. Topics discussed by both Turkey’s chief foreign policy adviser Ibrahim Kalin and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan include Syria, Libya, the East Mediterranean, Cyprus and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Following the meeting, statements were released on behalf of both advisors. While Kalin conveyed the necessity to find joint solutions to issues, like the S-400 purchase and the US’ support to the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the White House underlined that Sullivan underlined the US’ intention to strengthen security through NATO, and voiced its concerns regarding the S-400’s undermining of the alliance’s cohesion and effectiveness.
