Turkey's Erdogan calls for review of Nato over US arming of Kurds fighting Isil in Syria

• Josie Ensor, Middle East Correspondent

26 June 2017 • 1:16pm


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened the US on Sunday over its arming of Kurdish forces in Syria, calling for a review of the Nato military alliance in response.

“At one side we will be together in Nato but on the other side you will act together with terror organisations,” he said in reference to the US-led coalition support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Forces (YPG) Turkey considers terrorists.

“Those so-called friends don’t see any issue walking along with terror organisations who want to divide Turkey,” the president added.

The SDF is leading the battle to liberate the northern Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) and has been provided weapons and training by the US military.


Credit: EPA
Mr Erdogan said the decision, which has caused a major rift between Nato’s two biggest military forces, contravened the alliance's framework of cooperation.

“All of these moves are against Nato,” he said. “In this case, the Nato treaty should be revised.”

Washington has tried to placate Ankara by promising that all weapons provided to the YPG would be taken back once Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) was defeated.


“Those who think that they can fool Turkey by saying that they will get those weapons back will eventually understand the vital mistake they made, but it will be too late,” Mr Erdogan said in response.

“We will call to account the real owners of those weapons for every drop of blood they shed with those weapons.”

The US and the EU, 22 of whose 29 member states are in Nato, has hardened its attitude towards Mr Erodgan over his increasingly authoritarian grip on the country.


Credit: AFP
Since an attempted coup against the president last summer, Mr Erdogan has set about arresting tens of thousands of suspected plotters and sympathisers, including soldiers, teachers, judges, politicians and journalists.

In April he won publical approval for constitutional overhaul which extends his powers and brings the country closer to autocratic rule. Despite all the tensions, however, Turkey remains an indispensable frontline ally for Nato.

A deal with the EU has seen Turkey help stem the tide of refugees to Greece and the country is keen as a vital partner in the fight against Isil.

Shortly after making Sunday’s heated speech at a mosque in Ankara, Mr Erdogan became unwell and had to be taken out on a stretcher.


Mr Erdogan was briefly taken to another part of the mosque before returning to speak to the press.

“Thank God, I’m well now,” he said later. “I have a small condition about my blood pressure, related to my diabetes.”

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