United States Congress is presenting President Trump with bipartisan options regarding sanctions on Turkey; These discussions come after Turkey’s seeming reckless strikes on the Kurds; Trump: imposing powerful Sanctions on Turkey. Treasury is ready to go; additional legislation may be sought. There is a great consensus on this. Turkey has asked that it not be done.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump tweeted that a bipartisan (Democrats & Republicans) coalition within the US Congress has come together, considering multiple serious options regarding sanctions on the nation of Turkey. Discussion of sanctions has been on the rise after Turkey’s, what seems to be, reckless strikes throughout northeastern Syria.
Turkey began to carry out airstrikes inside of Syria within 24 hours of President Trump’s announcement from the White House last Sunday. In their determination, they’ve mistakenly shelled a Kurdish-controlled town where US Special Forces were located, and they’re strikes played a role in the escape of approximately five ISIS militant prisoners over the weekend.
Senator Lindsey Graham referred to the Turkish invasion as, “a disaster in the making,” and stated that “Erdogan is not our friend and Congress will push back…We’re not giving Turkey a green light in Congress, and we’re not going to abandon the Kurds. If the president does so, we won’t.”
It’s critical to keep in mind that the eventual withdrawal from Syria was a campaign promise that the president made. ‘Abandonment of the Kurds’ has never been part of the strategy. In fact, the United States is still arming and funding them in their fight against ISIS.
President Trump tweeted, “Dealing with @LindseyGrahamSC (Lindsey Graham-South Carolina Republican Senator) and many members of Congress, including Democrats, about imposing powerful Sanctions on Turkey. Treasury is ready to go; additional legislation may be sought. There is a great consensus on this. Turkey has asked that it not be done. Stay tuned!”
