US President Donald Trump talks with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House. PHOTO: REUTERS
himself has opened the door for a Turkish incursion.
Trump said he would "totally destroy and obliterate" Turkey's economy if it took action in Syria that he considered "off-limits" following his decision on Sunday to pull out US forces from northeastern Syria.
The US withdrawal will leave Kurdish-led forces in Syria that have long allied with Washington vulnerable to a planned incursion by the Turkish military which brands them terrorists. Trump's stern words seemed to be aimed at placating critics who accused him of abandoning the Syrian Kurds by pulling out US forces.
Leaders from both parties and both houses of Congress joined in the criticism, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Trump's fellow Republican.
"As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I've done before!)" Trump tweeted.
As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
Turkey's lira slid more than 2% to its lowest level in more than a month against the dollar on Monday over concerns about the planned incursion into northern Syria and Trump's warning.
Investors have been closely watching tense ties between Ankara and Washington in recent months, with the countries at odds over a range of issues, including Syria and Turkey's purchase of Russian missile defence systems.
Turkey has repeatedly threatened to carry out an incursion against U S-backed Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria who have links to Kurdish guerrillas operating next door in Turkey.
The United States began pulling troops back from the northeast Syrian border on Monday, effectively giving Turkey a green light to move into the area.
....the captured ISIS fighters and families. The U.S. has done far more than anyone could have ever expected, including the capture of 100% of the ISIS Caliphate. It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory. THE USA IS GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
Earlier on Monday, Trump said the United States should leave others from European allies to Iranian foes, "to figure the situation out" in the region.
He wrote on Twitter that "it is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN. Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will now have to figure the situation out."
'STAB IN THE BACK'
It is a major policy shift that was denounced as a "stab in the back" by Kurdish-led forces who have been Washington's most capable partners in fighting Islamic State in Syria, also known by its acronym ISIS.
US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, called on Trump to "reverse this dangerous decision" to withdraw, saying in a statement that it threatened regional security and sent a message to Iran and Russia, as well as US allies, that the United States is no longer a trusted partner.
McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, said in a statement: "A precipitous withdrawal of US forces from Syria would only benefit Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime. And it would increase the risk that ISIS and other terrorist groups regroup."
Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who is generally a vocal Trump supporter, on the Fox News Channel criticised the Syria pullout decision as "impulsive."
France warned that the US decision to withdraw from northeastern Syria could open the door to a revival of Islamic State, which has suffered significant battlefield losses to a US-led coalition in the area.
"We are going to be extremely careful that this announced disengagement from the United States and a possible offensive by Turkey does not create a dangerous maneuver that diverts from the goal we all pursue - the fight against Islamic State - and which is dangerous for the local population," France's armed forces minister, Florence Parly, told reporters.
The United States expects Turkey to take responsibility for captive Islamic State fighters in northeastern Syria if Ankara's planned incursion seizes areas where the detained militants are held, a senior State Department official said.
The captives are held in SDF facilities south of a safe zone initially proposed by Turkey. Aside from Trump's threat, the State Department official and the Pentagon both said the United States did not endorse Turkey's planned offensive.
"We made it clear (to the Turks) that we do not support this operation," the official told reporters. "We think this operation is a very bad idea."
A U.S. official said Turkey had been removed from a military mechanism used to coordinate air operations over northern Syria and that Turkey would no longer have access to US intelligence and surveillance feeds in the region. U.S. relations with Turkey under Trump have been rocky.
Last year, he imposed tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum products over Ankara's detention of a US pastor whose case was supported by members of his Christian conservative base.
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