Joe Biden to meet with leaders in Turkey mid-January

US Vice President Joe Biden waves as he

Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Turkey next month amid the ongoing fight against the Islamic State group. Biden is adding a stop in Turkey to his previously announced trip to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum the week of Jan. 17. The White House says Biden will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn) and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (AH’-meht dah-voot-OH’-loo). The U.S. is pressing Turkey to do more to fight IS and tighten its border with Syria. Turkey has been a target of IS attacks, and on Wednesday detained two suspected IS militants believed to be planning suicide attacks. Biden is also working to tamp down a spat between Turkey and Iraq over Turkish troops staged at a training camp in northern Iraq. The White House says Biden will also visit Guatemala on Jan. 14 to lead the U.S. delegation to incoming President Jimmy Morales‘ inauguration. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.