Turkey, US to control Manbij until new administration is formed: FM Çavuşoğlu

Turkish and U.S. forces will control the northern Syrian region of Manbij until a new administration is formed, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Wednesday.

The Turkish foreign minister’s statement comes as the two NATO partners agree on a three-step plan for Syria’s Manbij.

Under the proposed terms of the agreement, Turkish and American forces will start a joint supervision of Manbij in 45 days.

The three-step plan, which will become finalised during a visit by Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu to Washington on June 4.

Çavuşoğlu said a roadmap for Manbij may be implemented before the end of summer if the U.S. and Turkey reach a deal.

According to the framework of the agreement, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is a front for Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists, will leave Manbij in 30 days if the agreement between Turkey and the U.S. is signed on June 4.

Last week, Turkish and U.S. working groups, who met in capital Ankara, said that they had outlined a draft for cooperation to ensure security and stability in Manbij.