Erdogan calls on Ankara’s allies to cut off support for the Syrian Democratic Forces
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Ankara’s allies to stop supporting the “Syrian Democratic Forces” under the pretext of fighting “ISIS” in Syria.
Erdogan’s demand came in a speech during a Ramadan iftar dinner with a number of foreign ambassadors in Ankara, on Tuesday evening, 12 March 2024, at the headquarters of the Justice and Development Party.
Erdogan said: “We expect the friendly countries, especially our allies, to show their solidarity with Turkey at least by cutting off support for the separatist terrorist organization (Syrian Democratic Forces), under the pretext of fighting ISIS in Syria.”
Erdogan added: “Turkey will not allow the establishment of a terrorist entity on its southern borders under any circumstances.”
Erdogan pointed out: “All developments in the previous ten years have clearly shown that it is not possible to protect interests through terrorist organizations, and that such calculations are doomed to failure.”
Erdogan confirmed that Turkey actively contributes to peace and stability efforts in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan, as well as Gaza and Ukraine.
It is noteworthy that last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed with his US counterpart, Anthony Blinken, the Syrian file in all its dimensions, including advancing political solution paths in line with UNSCR 2254, and resuming consultations on combating “terrorism,” on the sidelines of strategic mechanism meetings between the two countries in Washington.
