Trump threatens Turkey with economic devastation if it attacks Syrian Kurd militia

US president, Donald Trump has threatened Turkey with economic devastation if it attacks a U.S.-allied Kurdish militia in Syria, a statement that weakened the Turkish lira and prompted criticism from Ankara on Monday.

Relations between the two NATO allies have been strained over U.S. backing for the Kurdish YPG, which Turkey views as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that is waging a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil.

A diplomatic crisis last year, when Trump imposed sanctions on two of President Tayyip Erdogan’s ministers and raised tariffs on Turkish metal exports, pushed the Turkish lira to a record low in August.

Trump said on Sunday the United States was starting the military pullout from Syria that he announced in December but that it would continue to hit Islamic State fighters there.

Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone…Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey, Trump wrote on Twitter.

The lira slid as much as 1.6 percent to 5.5450 against the dollar on Monday.

Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Trump should respect Washington’s alliance with Ankara.

Mr @realDonaldTrump It is a fatal mistake to equate Syrian Kurds with the PKK, which is on the US terrorists list, and its Syria branch PYD/YPG, spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter.

Terrorists can’t be your partners & allies. Turkey expects the US to honor our strategic partnership and doesn’t want it to be shadowed by terrorist propaganda, he said on Monday.

Reuters