Trump massively undermined Mike Pence's mission to stop Turkey's invasion of Syria, saying publicly that it's none of his business
Alexandra Ma
,
Business Insider•October 17, 2019
0:22
3:20
Trump says Kurds are ‘not angels’
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US Vice President Mike Pence is on his way to Turkey to urge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop his offensive on Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria.
The US has called for a ceasefire, but Erdogan has so far refused because he sees the Kurds as terrorists. The Kurdish forces were the US' allies in fighting ISIS in Syria.
But President Donald Trump undermined Pence's negotiating position on Wednesday, just as Pence was leaving, by saying that fighting in Syria is "between Turkey and Syria. It's not between Turkey and Syria and the United States."
Trump paved the way for the Turkish incursion earlier this month by abruptly withdrawing US troops from northeastern Syria.
President Donald Trump undermined Vice President Mike Pence's mission to Turkey just as Pence was setting off, by publicly saying that the conflict is nothing to do with the US.
As of Thursday morning, Pence is en route to Turkey to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to urge him to stop his offensive on Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria, near the Turkish border.
They are scheduled to meet Thursday.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, and envoy to Syria Jim Jeffrey are also part of the US delegation.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint news conference after talks with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. Erdogan is on a two-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)Associated Press
Trump tries to wash his hands of SyriaTurkey has long threatened to wipe out the Kurdish forces, which it sees as terrorists. Trump's October 6 withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria has paved the way for a Turkish incursion into the area, which is rapidly reshaping the territory.
The Kurds — with whom the US allied to fight ISIS in Syria — have since allied with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and Russian troops to fight Turkey.
On Wednesday, Trump undercut Pence's bargaining power with Erdogan by saying that the US is not involved in the conflict.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, he said the conflict is "between Turkey and Syria. It's not between Turkey and Syria and the United States."
Of the remaining powers on the ground, Trump said: "They've got to work it out."
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