Biden, Erdogan meeting looks ahead to a Syrian transition
- 9 years ago
With U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State pounding Kobani, the bigger picture is emerging in neighboring Turkey.
There U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
While Turkey has refused to take a frontline military role against IS, the two NATO allies found common ground on Syria's future.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYING:
"Not only to deny ISIL a safe heaven and roll them back and defeat them but also to strengthen the Syrian opposition and pursue a political transition away from, away from the Assad regime."
Turkey has drawn criticism for letting thousands of foreign fighters cross its border in its haste to see Syrian President Bashar al-Assad toppled.
But it's also allowed Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters to cross through Turkey to defend Kobani and has even started training those fighters in Iraq.
Despite their differences, Erdogan says Turkey and the U.S. remain in sync
There U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
While Turkey has refused to take a frontline military role against IS, the two NATO allies found common ground on Syria's future.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYING:
"Not only to deny ISIL a safe heaven and roll them back and defeat them but also to strengthen the Syrian opposition and pursue a political transition away from, away from the Assad regime."
Turkey has drawn criticism for letting thousands of foreign fighters cross its border in its haste to see Syrian President Bashar al-Assad toppled.
But it's also allowed Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters to cross through Turkey to defend Kobani and has even started training those fighters in Iraq.
Despite their differences, Erdogan says Turkey and the U.S. remain in sync