Politico reports:
President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed to “devastate Turkey economically” should the Turkish military attack U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters — a rare direct threat by Trump to a NATO ally as his administration grapples with the execution of its plan to withdraw American soldiers from Syria.
The planned U.S. troop drawdown has provoked international uncertainty amid conflicting statements from senior administration officials deployed in recent days to help calm regional powers.
Turkey has supported American efforts against ISIS. But the Turks consider Kurds, who are also fighting ISIS, to be their enemy, and there have been concerns they might attack the Kurdish forces once the American forces are gone.
Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019
….Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria – natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019
President Trump’s tweets marked the first public threat toward Turkey, a NATO ally, over the Kurds and seemed to offer a blanket of protection for the group https://t.co/5Y0SSlpbXY
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 14, 2019
Trump says he will protect Kurds if attacked by Turkey – I wonder if Trump knows that the Kurds are Muslim. I get a sense he thinks they are Christian. (They are not) Wonder how his base will react that Trump is defending Muslims?!
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) January 14, 2019