The United States and Turkey held talks in Ankara as part of a “working group”, formed to settle disputes between the two nations over the presence of Kurdish militia in the Syrian city of Manbij.

Following months of disagreements between the United States and Turkey, the two NATO allies have reached a consensus regarding a “roadmap to cooperate on security in Manbij,”  a joint statement said late on Friday.

“The two sides outlined the main contours of a roadmap for their further cooperation in ensuring security and stability in Manbij,” the statement added.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and the newly appointed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will “consider the recommendations” of the working group during their meeting set for June 4, according to the statement.

The “working group” on Syria was formed after Cavusoglu and then-US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met in February; in March, Turkish diplomats made a visit to Washington as part of such group. Manbij is now controlled by the US-backed Kurdish militia, YPG, considered by Ankara to be affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey.

Source: Agencies