Fiasco in Ankara: Turkish-US friction on Syria back to square one
US national security adviser John Bolton was snubbed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because of the Trump administration's demands that Kurds not be harmed after the United States withdraws most of its troops.
![USA-TURKEY/BOLTON U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton speaks during an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem August 21, 2018. Picture taken August 21, 2018. REUTERS/RonenZvulun - RC1C0BEC6DB0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2019/01/RTS1Y9ES.jpg/RTS1Y9ES.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=y9z-kITN)
US national security adviser John Bolton’s visit to Ankara was supposed to be a turning point in Syria’s foreseeable future and for Turkish-US relations.
It was — but not in the sense that was expected. No progress was made in relations between the two NATO allies — Turkey and the United States — which have become increasingly problematic regarding the Syrian theater. On the contrary, Bolton's visit could be deemed a diplomatic disaster.