- Title: NATO defence ministers meet to discuss Turkey's offensive in Syria, Russia
- Date: 24th October 2019
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATO HEADQUARTERS NATO FLAG FLYING
- Embargoed: 7th November 2019 17:24
- Keywords: Defence Ministers Group picture Russia mark Esper Kurds NATO Family Photo Turkey Stoltenberg Syria
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: NATO,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002B2GKE2V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: NATO Defence Ministers discussed a German proposal for a security zone in northern Syria on Thursday (October 24) that received support from Turkey and the United States.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told allies that an internationally controlled zone would also need Russia, now the dominant power in Syria, if it was to protect displaced civilians and ensure the fight continues against Islamic State militants, diplomats said.
The idea, the first time Berlin has proposed a military mission in the Middle East, has at least served to steady an alliance that is badly shaken by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria and Turkey's ensuing military operation launched on Oct. 9, diplomats said.
Europe were incensed by Turkey's cross-border offensive against Kurdish forces, which once fought alongside the United States against Islamic State, while European Union governments have frozen arms sales in protest at Turkey's actions.
(Production: Clement Rossignol) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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