- Title: Turkey created a "very terrible" situation in Syria, Pentagon chief says
- Date: 24th October 2019
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, MARK ESPER, WAITING TO GIVE SPEECH AT EVENT BY GERMAN MARSHALL FUND THINK TANK MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE ESPER ARRIVING ON STAGE AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, MARK ESPER, SAYING: "Look, I've been very candid about this: Turkey put us all in a very terrible situation. I mean, I think the incursion was unwarranted. I think (it was) (Turkish) President (Recep) Erdogan that was fixated on making this incursion for one reason or another. And there was not a possibility that we were going to start a war with a NATO ally - a NATO ally who's been a very good ally since its joining the alliance in 1952, I think." ESPER ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, MARK ESPER, SAYING: "But I've also said that the direction of Turkey with regards (to) the alliance is heading in the wrong direction. On any number of issues we see them spinning closer into Russia's orbit than into the western orbit. And I think that's unfortunate. And I think we all need to work together to strengthen our partnership with Turkey and make sure they trend back to being the strong reliable ally, responsible ally that they've been in the past." MEMBER OF AUDIENCE ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, MARK ESPER, SAYING: "Brief conversations already with my British and French counterparts. We're going to discuss that this week - I think we're all committed and I know the United States certainly is - is to continue the defeat ISIS (Islamic State) operation. We need to figure out what the next steps look like in this new phase of the campaign. I understand many in Europe were concerned about this. I think many others in Europe should help contribute to the mission." ESPER ON STAGE ESPER STANDING UP, SHAKING HANDS WITH MODERATOR AND LEAVING ROOM
- Embargoed: 7th November 2019 10:23
- Keywords: Sanctions ISIS Defense Secretary Russia Mark Esper Kurds China Trump NATO Turkey Syria Ceasefire Islamic State incursion U.S. Erdogan Iraq
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2GJDQF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday (October 24) criticised Turkey for its military incursion into Syria, saying it had put the U.S. and its allies in a "very terrible situation".
Last week, Esper said he would press NATO allies "to take collective and individual diplomatic and economic measures in response" to Turkey's incursion into northeastern Syria, even as critics have pointed out that U.S. President Donald Trump's decision enabled the Turkish offensive. Earlier this month, Trump announced that the United States would be withdrawing its troops from northeastern Syria, clearing the way for Turkish troops to launch an offensive against Kurdish fighters in the area.
"There was not a possibility that we were going to start a war with a NATO ally," Esper said.
Speaking at an event organised in Brussels by the German Marshall Fund think tank, the Defense Secretary urged Ankara to demonstrate that it was still a "responsible" NATO ally.
The American pullout from northeastern Syria has raised concern that it could allow a resurgence of Islamic State militants.
Esper said he already talked to his British and French counterparts and that the U.S. was still committed to continue the fight against Islamic State militants. He was expected to discuss the topic further at a meeting of NATO defence ministers later in the day.
(Production: Christian Levaux, Jorrit Donner-Wittkopf) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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