Turkey's top diplomat tells Blinken Kurdish fighters 'cannot be allowed' in Syria

Turkey's top diplomat on Saturday said Syrian Kurdish fighters essential for the United States in the fight against Islamic State (IS) extremists cannot be sheltered in Syria, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Blinken that "the PKK/YPG terrorist organization cannot be allowed to take shelter in Syria," the ministry spokesman said, referring to the People's Protection Units (YPG) Ankara views as a terror group.

Turkey has long been rankled by the United States' support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria. Ankara sees YPG -- the main component of the SDF -- as an extension of its outlawed domestic foe the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

But Washington has long seen the SDF -- which spearheaded the fight that defeated Islamic State group jihadists in 2019 -- as crucial to preventing a jihadist resurgence in the area.

Fidan told Blinken that Ankara backed the efforts of Syria's new rulers to "ensure the territorial integrity and security" of the country.

He also said during the phone call that "it is important to act in cooperation with the new Syrian administration in order to ensure stability in Syria and to complete the transition period in an orderly manner," according to the ministry spokesperson.

Last week, Fidan had in a press conference in Damascus stated that US president-elect Donald Trump knew better than to continue Washington's backing for Kurdish fighters over supporting the security needs of its NATO ally Turkey.

"When we look at it from America's interests, as a mathematical calculation -- whether Turkey or a terrorist organization like the PKK is more important -- Mr Trump sees the mathematics immediately," he said.

Turkey is hoping that Trump will decide to pull out the US forces -- a step he almost took last time in office.

Trump saw "there is no need for America to be here. He could not understand why (US troops) are there, what the benefit would be," Fidan said, adding the incoming United States leader was likely to shake up the status quo.

"I believe that Mr Trump will approach this issue differently in the new term, with a more determined and stronger will, that only prioritises American interests," he said.