In remarks made to reporters at his property in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, United States President-elect Donald Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyıp Erdoğan and the power of the Turkish Armed Forces.
The comments by the President-elect Monday (December 16) also claimed Turkey was. behind the recent downfall of President Bashar Al Assad, saying Turkey had carried out. an “unfriendly takeover without a lot of lives being lost”, and that Ankara would “hold the. keys to Syria” in the near future.
Trump’s comments appeared to praise his relationship with the Turkish President during his first term from 2017-2021, saying “Erdoğan is someone who I got along with well, and he’s. built a very powerful military.”
Following Assad’s fall from power, Trump issued statements advocating against US. intervention, saying on his Truth Social platform: “Syria is a mess, but it is not our friend…The United States should have nothing to do with it, This is not our fight, Let it play out. Do not get involved!”
Experts have warned that a lack of US presence in post-Assad. Syria could lead to a. resurgence of the Islamic State group. In comments over the weekend, Turkish Defense. Minister Yasar Güler dismissed the threat of the Islamic State, saying: “Has anyone heard of. any attacks by Islamic State terrorists in Syria in the last three years? We don’t see or hear anything about the Islamic State at the moment.”
Trump’s comments yesterday signaled the incoming president is unlikely to maintain the. presence of the approximately 900 US troops currently stationed in Syria. In response to a. reporter’s question regarding the potential withdrawal of these troops, Trump said “There. must be a better way to do this. One of those ways could be Turkey.”
Trump’s history with Turkey and Syria
In October 2019, the the United States withdrew troops from northern Syria under. President Trump’s orders, clearing the way for a Turkish military offensive against Kurdish-led forces. Turkey aimed to create a “safe zone” along its border, targeting the Syrian. Democratic Forces (SDF), whom Ankara considers linked to the PKK, a designated terrorist. group. The withdrawal was controversial, as the SDF had been key U.S. allies in the fight. against ISIS. Critics argued the move abandoned the Kurds and risked destabilizing the region.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick.
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