Trump Threatens To Destroy Turkey’s Economy If They Take ‘Off-Limits’ Action In Syria

By
Jordan Andrews
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OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.

President Trump is now threatening to destroy the Turkish economy if their government carries out actions in Syria which Trump considers “off-limits.”

Trump announced the threat amid a larger campaign to move U.S. troops out of Northern Syria, a move that has faced criticisms from some Democratic and Republican members of Congress. Even some members of Trump’s administration have admonished the decision.

“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 said in a tweet. “They must, with Europe and others, watch over 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!” the president added.

Reuters reports Trump said he does still want the U.S. to maintain a policing presence in the region, but no longer a “fighting” one:

Turkey does not appear “as of now” to have begun its expected incursion into northern Syria, a senior Trump administration official said on Monday.

The Turkish Defence Ministry said on Twitter late on Monday that preparations for a possible military operation into northeastern Syria had been completed.

The Trump administration official, briefing reporters on a conference call, said 50 U.S. troops in the region that Turkey has targeted would be redeployed elsewhere in Syria “where they aren’t in the crossfire.” The United States has about 1,000 troops in Syria.

Speaking later at the White House, Trump said he had told President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call that Turkey could suffer the “wrath of an extremely decimated economy” if it acted in Syria in a way that was not humane.

Offering his rationale for the troop redeployment, Trump said his ultimate goal was to fulfill a campaign promise to bring troops home. “We’re like a police force over there. We’re not fighting. We’re policing,” he said.

The next morning, Trump—perhaps more calmly—recognized Turkey plays an important position in trading with and militarily supporting the United States.

“So many people conveniently forget that Turkey is a big trading partner of the United States, in fact they make the structural steel frame for our F-35 Fighter Jet,” Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday morning. “They have also been good to deal with, helping me to save many lives at Idlib Province, and returning, in very good health, at my request, Pastor Brunson, who had many years of a long prison term remaining.”

“Also remember, and importantly, that Turkey is an important member in good standing of NATO. He is coming to the U.S. as my guest on November 13th,” the president added.

Specifically addressing claims that the new U.S. position seems like an abandonment of regional Kurdish allies, Trump tweeted: “We may be in the process of leaving Syria, but in no way have we Abandoned the Kurds, who are special people and wonderful fighters.”

“Likewise our relationship with Turkey, a NATO and Trading partner, has been very good,” he added. “Turkey already has a large Kurdish population and fully understands that while we only had 50 soldiers remaining in that section of Syria, and they have been removed, any unforced or unnecessary fighting by Turkey will be devastating to their economy and to their very fragile currency. We are helping the Kurds financially/weapons!

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