When US Vice President Joe Biden recently met with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara, Turkey’s recent attempted coup, Fethullah Gulen and Syria were the main items discussed. However, in a press conference following the meeting with the prime minister, Biden highlighted two other points: The United States and Turkey have pledged to encourage Cypriot leaders to conclude negotiations on establishing a bizonal and bicommunal confederation, and Turkey and the United States will join efforts to support regional energy security.

Though few analysts focused on these items, it is worth noting that regional energy security actually is a factor linking the Gulen case, the situation in Syria and the Cyprus issue.

Biden finished his press briefing by saying, “We also spoke about how the United States and Turkey can continue to support Cypriot leaders as they work to conclude an agreement this year, hopefully that will reunify the island in a bizonal, bicommunal federation. And we discussed the joint effort to support regional energy security.”

This reference to Cyprus and energy security issues was not expected. Before his arrival in Turkey, Biden wrote, in an op-ed for the Turkish daily Milliyet, about the objectives for his visit. He mentioned US support for Turkey’s democratically elected government, US legal procedures for the Gulen case and the situation in Syria. In his article, Biden mentioned neither the situation in Cyprus nor regional energy issues. But they became subjects of his meetings nevertheless.