Turkish Foreign Minister Rejects Trump’s ‘Takeover’ Claim in Syria
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has strongly rejected incoming US President Donald Trump’s characterization of Turkey’s actions in Syria as an “unfriendly takeover,” Al Jazeera reports.
In an interview with the newspaper, Fidan dismissed Trump’s earlier remarks praising Turkey’s “smart” approach as a “grave mistake.”
Trump, in a news conference earlier this week, had suggested Turkey had cleverly taken control of parts of Syria with minimal casualties. However, Fidan countered that the situation reflects the will of the Syrian people rather than a Turkish takeover.
“For Syrian people, it is not a takeover. I think if there is any takeover, it’s the will of the Syrian people which is taking over now,” Fidan said.
He emphasized Turkey’s aversion to regional dominance, citing the destructive history of such power plays in the region.
Fidan addressed concerns regarding a potential major Turkish military offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria, specifically the People’s Protection Units (YPG). He described the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and the West. He criticized Western nations for overlooking the YPG’s true nature, citing its presentation as an ally against ISIL (ISIS – designed a terrorist group by the USA) as a misrepresentation. Fidan called on the US to halt military support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of which the YPG is a key component.
He suggested that the newly established Syrian government should address the Kurdish issue, thereby negating the need for Turkish intervention. While reports indicate increased Turkish border patrols, Fidan said that no unusual military activity is currently underway.
Turkey’s recognition of the new Syrian administration as a legitimate partner is evidenced by the reopening of the Turkish embassy in Damascus, Fidan confirmed. He also noted that various international actors, including the UN and EU, have established contact with the new government.
Interestingly, Fidan advocated for the delisting of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant force in the current Syrian governing coalition, from international terrorism lists, citing the group’s efforts to distance itself from al-Qaeda. This comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged US engagement with HTS regarding Syria’s future. The US State Department listed HTS as a foreign terrorist organization in 2018 due to its al-Qaeda links.
