US offers reward for PKK members on Turkey’s most-wanted list

The U.S. on Tuesday offered rewards for information on three high-ranking members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a move that could help Washington repair ties with Ankara.

The U.S. will pay up to $5 million for information “leading to the identification or location” of Murat Karayilan, up to $4 million for Cemil Bayik and up to $3 million for Duran Kalkan. All three are among Turkey’s “most wanted terrorists,” Reuters reported.

The PKK has been fighting an armed insurgency against the Turkish government for decades.

{mosads}Turkey said it would approach the Trump administration’s decision with caution, adding that it expects the U.S. to cut ties with the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, according to Reuters.

“[The U.S.] say they hold the YPG separate from the PKK, but they can’t fool anyone with this,” said presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, Reuters reported. “It is a very delayed move.”

Turkey and the U.S., both members of NATO, have had strained relations in recent years, particularly with regard to Syria.

The U.S. also pressed Turkey over its detainment of American pastor Andrew Brunson. When Turkey did not release Brunson, President Trump imposed sanctions on the country, contributing to Turkey’s currency plummeting.

But relations have improved in recent weeks.

Turkey released Brunson in October, and the U.S. dropped its sanctions last Friday.