Trump Warns Turkey of ’Devastating’ Sanctions If Talks with US Were Not Successful

By Staff, Agencies

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States was “going to try to work it out” with Turkey regarding its assault into northeastern Syrian, but US sanctions would be “devastating” if discussions with Ankara do not go well.

“We’re in a great position,” Trump told reporters at the White House hours before US Vice President Mike Pence was due to depart for talks in Ankara along with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“I think they’ll have a successful meeting,” Trump said at a news conference alongside Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella. “If they don’t, the sanctions, tariffs other things that we’re doing - will do and are doing - to Turkey will be devastating to Turkey’s economy.”

Trump has been on the defensive since his abrupt decision announced last week to withdraw forces from northeastern Syria where they had been supporting Kurdish forces.

Relatively, US lawmakers, including Trump’s fellow Republicans, have been fiercely critical of what they see as his hasty handling of the situation following Trump’s phone call with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday.

Trump on Wednesday said he did not give Erdogan a “green light” to push into northeastern Syria. Erdogan had long been planning such a move, Trump said.

European allies have also been critical of the move and called on Turkey to halt its military operations.

Mattarella, for his part, said he had discussed the situation with Trump, voicing Italy’s condemnation of the Turkish offensive.