Erdogan Says to Continue Talks on Syria with Putin Rather Than Trump
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that he was not planning to discuss the US intentions to create “border security forces” in northern Syria with US President Donald Trump, but would maintain contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I am not planning to call Trump, but contacts with Putin continue,” Erdogan told reporters, when asked a relevant question, Sputnik reported.
Erdogan also urged NATO to oppose the US plans to create the border force, saying that the military bloc "obliged" to stand against those powers that "harass and violate the borders of its members”.
The news of the security border forces first emerfen on Saturday, when Col. Thomas Veale, public affairs officer of the US-led coalition gave an interview to The Defense Post. He said that the coalition was training the SDF to create a 30,000-strong force to maintain security along Syria's borders.
The statement prompted condemnation from Damascus, calling these activities aggression and occupation.
