Trump: “Fully Prepared to Swiftly Destroy Turkey’s Economy”

President Trump said on Monday he is “fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey’s economy” should they continue on the “dangerous and destructive path” of offensive military intervention in Syria.

In a Twitter post, the president announced an executive order for sanctions against Turkey and any contributors to it’s actions in northeast Syria will be issued, with steel tariffs returning to 50%, where they were at before the reduction in May, and a total cease of negotiations regarding a $100 billion trade deal with Turkey.

Trump said that Turkey’s priority must be protecting civilians and returning refugees in a “safe, voluntary, and dignified manner,” and not putting in jeopardy what the U.S. has achieved in Syria over the last several years - “liberated 100% of ISIS’ ruthless territorial caliphate.”

The ongoing military offense Turkey has set up in Syria is a danger to civilians, peace and security, President Trump said, elaborating that he has been “perfectly clear” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey is “precipitating a humanitarian crisis.”

With the previous withdrawal of U.S. forces from northeast Syria, Trump has said redeployment to monitor the region is in motion, with a small portion of possibly around 200 soldiers remaining at the At Tanf Garrison in southern Syria.

Alongside the economic threat sanctions pose to an already weak Turkey, the U.S. also calls for Turkey to stop the invasion and immediately declare a ceasefire, with Trump sending Vice President Mike Pence and national security adviser Robert O’Brien to Ankara to begin negotiations as soon as possible.

“President Trump communicated to him [President Erdogan] very clearly that the United States of America wants Turkey to stop the invasion, implement an immediate ceasefire and to begin to negotiate with Kurdish forces in Syria to bring an end to the violence,” Pence said regarding Trump’s goal and the situation at hand.

Many critics believe the U.S. withdrawal would take away from the nation’s security and credibility and play into the hands of Russia, all the while betraying the Kurds.

“Anyone who wants to assist Syria in protecting the Kurds is good with me, whether it is Russia, China, or Napoleon Bonaparte. I hope they all do great, we are 7,000 miles away!” President Trump wrote on Twitter in response.

An also popular opinion of people regularly criticizing the president is that the idea of enhancing Syria’s position on the battlefield and inviting Russia to more direct involvement is a mistake, to which Trump replied:

“Others may want to come in and fight for one side or the other. Let them!”