Donald Trump Threatens To ‘Totally Destroy’ Turkey’s Economy Amid Fall-Out From Syria Withdrawal

The US president highlights his "great and unmatched wisdom" after decision to withdraw troops from Syria amid fears for the Kurds.
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Donald Trump has threatened to “totally destroy and obliterate” the Turkish economy if the country took any action he considered “off-limits” following his decision to withdraw American forces from northeastern Syria.

Trump’s threat on Monday followed the White House announcing on Sunday that Turkey will invade Northern Syria in a campaign against the self-declared Islamic State.

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!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019

....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!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019

The withdrawal was swiftly condemned by US politicians over concerns that it could open the way for a Turkish strike on Kurdish-led forces long allied with Washington.

The Kurds are considered to be a terrorist organisation by the Turkish government. Withdrawing US troops, therefore, places them at even greater risk, the Kurds’ Syrian Democratic Forces warned in a statement that accused the US of abandoning its responsibilities “in the war on terror.”

“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 tweeted.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter here, and on Facebook here.

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