Trump halts trade negotiations with Turkey and threatens to 'swiftly destroy' their economy
Donald Trump says he plans on authorising fresh sanctions on Turkish officials and halting trade negotiations with the country, after Turkey's military began "destabilizing actions" in northeast Syria.
The US president's strong statement comes as the Turkish military has begun an offensive widely seen as putting Kurdish fighters in danger, and potentially sparking destabilisation in the region after years of fierce fighting there to quell the power of Isis. The offensive began after the US pulled its military presence from northeast Syria, giving Turkey the ability to attack the Kurdish fighters who had been a strong ally to American interests there.
"The United States will aggressively use economic sanctions to target those who enable, facilitate, and finance these heinous acts in Syria," the statement, posted to Mr Trump's Twitter account, reads. "I am fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey's economy if Turkish leaders continue down this dangerous and destructive path."
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