US President Donald Trump has threatened to “totally destroy” Turkey's economy if it does anything he considers “off limits” after his unexpected decision to pull US forces out of north-eastern Syria.
Trump has angrily defended his controversial withdrawal, which CNN says “threatens to wreck almost every goal the US has in the Middle East just now”. He took the decision to withdraw against the advice of senior officials in the Pentagon and state department.
Turkey is preparing to launch an operation without US support in northern Syria. The US withdrawal, which would allow Turkey to attack the US-backed Kurdish forces it regards as terrorists, has been criticised widely. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces says Trump is leaving the area to “turn into a war zone”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Writing on Twitter, he said: “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 the captured ISIS fighters and families. The US has done far more than anyone could have ever expected, including the capture of 100% of the ISIS Caliphate.”
Earlier, he had said it was time “to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal” and that “Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will now have to figure the situation out”.
Sky News says the move “was met with near universal astonishment”. The US’s former Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley said: “We must always have the backs of our allies, if we expect them to have our back.”
CNN reports that many lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also criticised Trump’s decision, including Republican senator Lindsey Graham. He said the “impulsive” move was “shortsighted and irresponsible” and threw the region into “further chaos”.
Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in Congress, said a “precipitous withdrawal of US forces from Syria would only benefit Russia, Iran and the Assad regime”. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the president “must reverse this dangerous decision”, which she called “reckless” and “misguided”.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s army says preparations are complete for a military incursion into northern Syria. A spokesman said: “The Turkish Armed Forces will never tolerate the creation of a terror corridor at our borders. All preparations for the operation have been completed.”
For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
Inside Syria’s al-Hol campUnder the radar Aid cuts mean authorities face ‘uphill struggle’ to maintain security
-
The dark history of myths about immigrants eating swans and petsIn the Spotlight Nigel Farage has mimicked Donald Trump and peddled tropes and rumours that have long been used to ‘dehumanise’ immigrants
-
What would happen if Israel lost America’s support?Today’s big question Loss of US backing could be a ‘catastrophe’ for Israel
-
Charlie Kirk, Jimmy Kimmel and free speechTalking Point TV host’s cancellation and Trump administration’s threats to media have led to accusations of Maga hypocrisy
-
Denmark’s record-setting arms purchase raises eyebrows and anxietyIN THE SPOTLIGHT By eschewing American-made munitions for their European counterparts, the Danish government is bracing for Russian antagonism and sending a message to the West
-
Russia slams Kyiv, hits government buildingSpeed Read This was Moscow's largest aerial assault since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022
-
China's Xi hosts Modi, Putin, Kim in challenge to USSpeed Read Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Asian leaders at an SCO summit
