Donald Trump has threatened to “totally destroy and obliterate” the
Turkish economy if the country took any action he considered “off-limits” following his decision to withdraw
American forces from northeastern Syria.
Trump’s threat on Monday followed the
White House announcing on Sunday that Turkey will invade Northern Syria in a campaign against the self-declared Islamic State. 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....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, 2019The withdrawal was swiftly condemned by US politicians over concerns that it could open the way for a Turkish strike on Kurdish-led forces long allied with Washington.
The
Kurds are considered to be a terrorist organisation by the Turkish government. Withdrawing US troops, therefore, places them at even greater risk, the Kurds’ Syrian
Democratic Forces warned in a statement that accused the US of abandoning its responsibilities “in the war on terror.”
“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.
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