US to expand intelligence cooperation with Turkey - media

The US is beefing up joint intelligence efforts with Turkey to help that government better target terrorists in the region, in an apparent bid to alleviate Turkish anxieties as the Pentagon implements a plan to arm Kurdish forces operating inside Syria, the Wall Street Journal writes.

The US is increasing the capabilities of what is known as an 'intelligence fusion center' in Ankara to help Turkish officials better identify and track the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The plan could end up doubling of the capacity of the fusion center, adding more US-provided intelligence assets like drones and other capabilities, according to the US officials.

Still, the US-Turkey intelligence agreement highlights a deep contradiction in US policy in the Middle East. The White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters Tuesday that he was unsure whether US President Donald Trump had informed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of his decision. 

"I don’t know if he’s addressed this to the president yet.  I do know that yesterday the President authorized the Department of Defense to equip Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces as necessary to ensure a clear victory over ISIS in Raqqa, Syria," he said.