Following announcement from US President Donald Trump to withdraw troops from Syria, Turkey has warned France not to retain its forces in protection of Kurdish militia as there is nothing to gain now for the country.
Paris lately confirmed it will not call back its troop from Syria even though Trump believes the war against Islamic State is over and the group has been defeated.
French President Emmanuel Macron said, “An ally must be reliable.”
US currently has about 2,000 forces in Syria and Trump’s unexpected, sudden decision has stunned most of the allies in the region including France.
Trump ordered withdrawal of troops and to provide training to the YPG under Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance to battle against IS.
Turkish leader meanwhile has greeted Trump’s move as the country now has a freer rein to target the Kurdish fighters, whom Turkey considers to be a terror group.
Turkey considers the fighters of outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that waged an insurgency inside the country since 1984 and has been blacklisted by Ankara, the European Union as well as the US.
Turkey believes it will be great on part of France if it contributes to the future of Syria, but if the forces are stationed to protect the militia, there will be no benefit to anyone.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his forces will intervene against the IS and YPG.
If believed to critics, thousands of IS fighters are still present in Syria and they could be a threat to the country.
