Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump have agreed in a phone call to carry out the US military withdrawal from Syria in line with their mutual interests, the state-run Anadolu news agency says.
In December, Trump confounded his own national security team with a surprise decision to withdraw all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, declaring IS defeated.
Erdogan previously said that uncertainty remained over the US withdrawal from Syria, adding there was talk of the pullout taking place in April or May.
During their phone call, Erdogan and Trump agreed the US withdrawal should not damage the mutual goals of Ankara and Washington.
Turkey wants to set up a safe zone with logistical support from allies and says it should be cleared of the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara views as a terrorist organisation linked with Kurdish militants.
Erdogan and Trump also discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in Syria, Anadolu said, adding that the two agreed to support a political resolution to the Syria conflict.
Australian Associated Press
