ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey and the USA introduced the end result of months of talks to arrange a process for enhancing their strained ties, eyeing cooperation within the areas of financial system and defence.

Ministerial discussions will comply with, the 2 sides mentioned in a joint assertion on Monday. That confirmed the progress, since talks at ministerial stage have been the meant format for the try at repairing relations.

Ties between Ankara and Washington have been strained over such points as Turkey’s acquisition of S-400 missile defence programs from Russia, coverage variations in Syria, Libya and the japanese Mediterranean, and judicial issues.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed in October to undertake the “Strategic Mechanism” talks for which officers have now cleared the way in which.

On Monday, U.S. Beneath Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met Turkish officers “to assessment matters of mutual curiosity”, comparable to financial and defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, and regional and world developments, together with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the joint assertion mentioned.

“The USA and Turkey look ahead to a Ministerial-level assembly inside the framework of the Strategic Mechanism later in 2022,” it added, with out elaborating.

Earlier than that, U.S. Division of Commerce Beneath Secretary Marisa Lago would go to Ankara on Tuesday “to advance the financial and commerce cooperation targets of the Strategic Mechanism.”

The USA sanctioned the Turkish defence business in December 2020 over the S-400s and has expelled its ally from its F-35 fighter jet programme. Ankara has referred to as the strikes unjust, however the allies have since been working to put aside variations and concentrate on cooperation, together with on Ukraine.

Turkey, which shares a border with Ukraine and Russia within the Black Sea and has good ties with each, has been mediating to finish the battle between them. It has supported Kyiv but additionally opposed sanctions on Moscow.

“The USA welcomed Turkey’s efforts to facilitate a simply, negotiated diplomatic answer to finish the conflict,” the joint assertion mentioned

As a part of her talks in Ankara, Nuland additionally met with Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan’s chief international coverage advisor, his workplace mentioned.