The US is calling for a withdrawal of troops from Syria a new condition and demand from Turkey the protection of the US-allied Kurds in the north of the civil war country. Turkey should not undertake a military operation that is not fully aligned with the US, so as not to endanger US troops, said National Security Advisor John Bolton today in Jerusalem.
However, Turkey must also meet the US demand that the Syrian opposition groups that had fought alongside the US not be jeopardized. US President Donald Trump’s position is that Turkey should not kill the Kurds and that the US military will not be withdrawn from Syria without an agreement, Bolton said.
Trump surprisingly announced US withdrawal
The US has supported the Kurdish militia YPG in the fight against the extremist militia Islamic State (IS). Turkey regards the Kurdish fighters as terrorists and has threatened to smash the YPG. Trump had announced in mid-December – against the recommendation of his advisers – surprisingly withdraw all 2,000 US soldiers from Syria, because the IS militia defeated there and thus the mission goal was achieved.
Bolton was in Israel for consultations and wanted to travel to Turkey on Monday. There he will also consult with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on how to protect the Kurds, said the security adviser.
Another meeting Erdogan – Putin
In the context of brisk travel diplomacy before the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, there is also another meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was reported today by Turkish and Russian media. According to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu, the meeting is scheduled to take place in January.
Putin’s spokesman said today, according to reports by Russian media, that the presidents of both countries agree that it must take place soon. Turkey supports opposition rebels in Syria, Russia together with Iran supports the government of the ruler Bashar al-Assad.
Question about the main responsibility in the fight against IS
In the room, among other things, the question of whether Turkey after the withdrawal of the US troops takes the main responsibility for the fight against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) in Syria. At the end of December, Russian and Turkish Foreign and Defense Ministers met in Syria.
Trump’s security adviser John Bolton will discuss Syria on Tuesday in Turkey, including talks with Secretary of Defense Hulusi Akar and intelligence chief Hakan Fidan. He is currently in Syria talks in Israel.
