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Turkey dismisses Trump threat to economy over Syrian Kurds
1 hour ago
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Related TopicsSyrian civil war
Syrian Kurdish protesters wave flags during a demonstration in the northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli on December 28, 2018, against threats from Turkey to carry out a fresh offensive following the US decision to withdraw their troopsImage copyrightAFP
Image caption
Syrian Kurds have been protesting against Turkish threats to carry out a new offensive
Turkey has dismissed President Donald Trump's threat to "devastate" its economy if it attacks Kurdish forces in Syria following a planned pullout of US troops.
"You cannot get anywhere by threatening Turkey economically," Foreign Minister Nevlut Cavusoglu said.
US forces have fought alongside a Kurdish militia in northern Syria against the Islamic State (IS) group.
Turkey, however, regards the People's Protection Units (YPG) as terrorists.
Syrians: 'We are tired of war'
US withdrawal backs Kurds in a corner
Who are the Kurds?
In December Mr Trump announced that the US would pull out all troops from Syria because the Islamic State militant group had been "defeated".
The sudden move shocked allies and led to criticism. Several senior US military officials resigned shortly afterwards.
There were also fears that Kurds in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had partnered with the US, would be attacked by Turkey once the US withdrew.
What was Mr Trump's threat?
Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday that the withdrawal from Syria had begun, and that the US would "devastate Turkey economically if they hit the Kurds".
He also said any remaining IS fighters could be attacked from the air, and that a 20-mile (32km) "safe zone" could be established.
Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump: 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....Image Copyright @realDonaldTrump@REALDONALDTRUMP
Report
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Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump: ....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!Image Copyright @realDonaldTrump@REALDONALDTRUMP
Report
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His tweet could be seen as a response to criticism that his decision to withdraw troops will hurt the US's regional allies.
Mr Trump offered no specifics on how the US could hurt Turkey's economy, and his announcement appeared to catch his advisers by surprise.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is currently touring the Middle East, responded to questions about Mr Trump's threat with: "You'll have to ask the president... We have applied economic sanctions in many places, I assume he is speaking about those kinds of things."
Meanwhile, Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described Mr Trump's tweet as a "domestic policy message" to critics.
Can the US actually hurt Turkey's economy?
Mr Cavusoglu has rejected Mr Trump's threats, saying: "We have said multiple times that we will not fear or be deterred by any threat."
He also criticised Mr Trump's methods, saying: "Strategic alliances should not be discussed over Twitter or social media."
However, US sanctions have had an impact on Turkey's economy before.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions and trade tariffs in August, amid a row over a detained US pastor - contributing to a sharp drop in the value of the Turkish lira. Pastor Andrew Brunson was released in October.
Turkey's lira slump explained
Is Turkey heading for an economic crisis?
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said Turkey expected the US to "honour our strategic partnership".
"Terrorists can't be your partners and allies," he said.
Will they strike a deal to protect Kurdish fighters in Syria?
1 hour ago
Share this with Facebook Share this with Messenger Share this with Twitter Share this with Email Share
Related TopicsSyrian civil war
Syrian Kurdish protesters wave flags during a demonstration in the northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli on December 28, 2018, against threats from Turkey to carry out a fresh offensive following the US decision to withdraw their troopsImage copyrightAFP
Image caption
Syrian Kurds have been protesting against Turkish threats to carry out a new offensive
Turkey has dismissed President Donald Trump's threat to "devastate" its economy if it attacks Kurdish forces in Syria following a planned pullout of US troops.
"You cannot get anywhere by threatening Turkey economically," Foreign Minister Nevlut Cavusoglu said.
US forces have fought alongside a Kurdish militia in northern Syria against the Islamic State (IS) group.
Turkey, however, regards the People's Protection Units (YPG) as terrorists.
Syrians: 'We are tired of war'
US withdrawal backs Kurds in a corner
Who are the Kurds?
In December Mr Trump announced that the US would pull out all troops from Syria because the Islamic State militant group had been "defeated".
The sudden move shocked allies and led to criticism. Several senior US military officials resigned shortly afterwards.
There were also fears that Kurds in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had partnered with the US, would be attacked by Turkey once the US withdrew.
What was Mr Trump's threat?
Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday that the withdrawal from Syria had begun, and that the US would "devastate Turkey economically if they hit the Kurds".
He also said any remaining IS fighters could be attacked from the air, and that a 20-mile (32km) "safe zone" could be established.
Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump: 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....Image Copyright @realDonaldTrump@REALDONALDTRUMP
Report
Presentational white space
Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump: ....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!Image Copyright @realDonaldTrump@REALDONALDTRUMP
Report
Presentational white space
His tweet could be seen as a response to criticism that his decision to withdraw troops will hurt the US's regional allies.
Mr Trump offered no specifics on how the US could hurt Turkey's economy, and his announcement appeared to catch his advisers by surprise.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is currently touring the Middle East, responded to questions about Mr Trump's threat with: "You'll have to ask the president... We have applied economic sanctions in many places, I assume he is speaking about those kinds of things."
Meanwhile, Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described Mr Trump's tweet as a "domestic policy message" to critics.
Can the US actually hurt Turkey's economy?
Mr Cavusoglu has rejected Mr Trump's threats, saying: "We have said multiple times that we will not fear or be deterred by any threat."
He also criticised Mr Trump's methods, saying: "Strategic alliances should not be discussed over Twitter or social media."
However, US sanctions have had an impact on Turkey's economy before.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions and trade tariffs in August, amid a row over a detained US pastor - contributing to a sharp drop in the value of the Turkish lira. Pastor Andrew Brunson was released in October.
Turkey's lira slump explained
Is Turkey heading for an economic crisis?
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said Turkey expected the US to "honour our strategic partnership".
"Terrorists can't be your partners and allies," he said.
Will they strike a deal to protect Kurdish fighters in Syria?