Erdogan, US Discuss Kabul Airport Security Measures

• 

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced today, Friday, that Ankara and Washington had agreed on the "arrangements" for the Turkish forces to secure Kabul Airport following the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

During a visit to Diyarbakır city, Erdogan revealed to the media: "We set arrangements with the United States and NATO regarding the upcoming mission, highlighting what we accept and what we don't."

He added, "we raised this subject during the NATO meetings, amid my meeting with the American President Joe Biden, and within our delegates discussions. We will carry out this procedure in the best way possible."

After a meeting between Biden and Erdogan, following the NATO summit in June, held in Brussels, Washington welcomed "Ankara's evident commitment" to carry out a "primary role" in securing Kabul's Airport.

Following the meeting, discussions intensified between the two parties to determine the arrangements for the future Turkish mission at the Kabul Airport, while an American delegate arrives in Ankara in June and an increase in phone calls between Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and American Defense Minister Lloyd Austin.

Biden announced, on Thursday, that the US army will complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan on the 31st of August, after 20 years of American presence in the country. He considered that the Taliban's control over the country is "not evident."

However, hours following his speech, the Taliban movement announced on Friday that "it took over Islam Qala, a key Afghan crossing point with Iran, and now controls 85% of Afghanistan."

Turkey's offer to secure the Kabul Airport comes while Erdogan seeks to improve the "strained" relations between Ankara and Washington.