US, Türkiye strengthen ties, vow 'open communication' following Ankara attack

The United States and Türkiye are reaffirming their commitment to open communication as NATO allies, according to the Pentagon, following a recent terrorist attack in Ankara that has heightened Türkiye’s security concerns.

“There was an acknowledgment of Türkiye’s legitimate security concerns as it related to the recent terrorist attack,” Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated Tuesday. The comments came after a call between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, where the leaders discussed bilateral defense issues, with a focus on the recent PKK attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters in Ankara, which claimed five lives and injured 22.

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The U.S. maintains its stance on the PKK as a terrorist organization, reaffirming solidarity with Türkiye. “I think the headline here is that the two leaders remained committed to keeping an open line of communication and supporting one another, particularly as it relates to being two valued NATO allies and partners,” Ryder emphasized.

Highlighting ongoing efforts to maintain strong ties, Ryder added, “We have good coordination, good communication with our Turkish allies. We’ll continue to do that going forward.”