Trump: We Will Devastate Turkey Economically If They Hit Kurds

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Posting a series of tweets at 2 a.m. today (January 14) in the local time of Turkey, US President Donald Trump announced that "in the event that Turkey hits the Kurds in Syria, the US will devastate Turkey economically."

The exchange rate of US Dollar, which was around the level of 5.25 Turkish Lira (TRY) before the statement of Trump, hit 5.50 TRY afterwards.

Trump: Stop the endless wars

US President Donald Trump posted the following tweets on Turkey:

"Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone....

"....Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!"

Kalın: We will continue fighting

Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın responded these tweets one hour later. Citing the tweet of US President, Kalın also tweeted,

"It is a fatal mistake to equate Syrian Kurds with the PKK, which is on the US terrorists list, and its Syria branch PYD/YPG.

"Turkey fights against terrorists, not Kurds. We will protect Kurds and other Syrians against all terrorist threats.

"Terrorists can't be your partners & allies. Turkey expects the US to honor our strategic partnership and doesn't want it to be shadowed by terrorist propaganda.

"There is no difference between DAESH, PKK, PYD and YPG. We will continue to fight against them all."

What happened?

The US announced on December 19, 2018 that it would withdraw its troops from Syria; afterwards, US President Donald Trump confirmed this announcement on Twitter.

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis signed the decree of withdrawal on December 24. Mattis resigned from his post on December 20 after the announcement of withdrawal made by Trump.

On January 3, 2019, Trump made another statement and announced that the US would withdraw from Syria "after some time" without referring to a specific date. Trump also added that "they would protect the Kurds." (HK/SD)