PM Yıldırım to meet with VP Pence during US visit

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım will visit the U.S. on Nov. 7-11 amid Syria tensions and visa row between the two countries.

A Turkish official told Daily Sabah Yıldırım was expected to have a bilateral meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

The relations between the two countries is going through the worst period in the last decade. The presence of Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) leader Fetullah Gülen in U.S. state of Pennsylvania remains a key problematic issue, especially after the bloody July 15, 2016 coup attempt blamed on FETÖ. Turkey has repeatedly called for Gülen's extradition and said enough evidence was presented, whereas the U.S. has responded that it is a judicial issue.

Yıldırım's visit will reportedly focus on talks regarding Gülen's extradition to Turkey.

The two NATO allies are also at odds in their policies in Syria. The U.S. supports the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the ground, which is dominated by PKK terrorist group Syrian offshoot the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing People's Protection Forces (YPG). The PKK is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., the EU and NATO.

The detention of a U.S. consular staff of Turkish origin in a probe over his links to the FETÖ led to cancellation of U.S. visa services in Turkey, which has responded in kind.