The White House has confirmed that President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the US’ supplying of military equipment to…
The White House has confirmed that President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the US’ supplying of military equipment to combatants in Syria’s civil war — hours after Turkish officials said Trump pledged to stop selling weapons to Kurdish fighters in the war-torn nation.
During a phone conversation Friday, the pair “discussed the purchase of military equipment from the United States” as they “reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey,” according to a statement from the White House.
Turkey has asked that the US cease supplying weapons to ethnic Kurds, known as the YPG, who are battling ISIS in Syria.
Erdogan considers the anti-ISIS fighters terrorists because of their links to Kurdish rebels within Turkey’s own borders.
Officials in Turkey said Trump told Erdogan he has issued orders the US stop arming the Kurds.
“Our discomfort regarding the provision of weapons to the YPG was conveyed to Mr. Trump once again… Trump very clearly said he had given instructions to not provide weapons to the YPG,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference in Ankara.
The US has considered the YPG as an ally in efforts to deliver Syria from the hands of ISIS, and Trump in May pledged to arm the Kurds in order to help take back the Syrian city of Raqqa, which was reclaimed from jihadist groups late last month.
