Donald Trump lifts all sanctions against Turkey

Dave Hanratty

“This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else.”

US President Donald Trump has lifted all sanctions against Turkey following its recent offensive on Kurdish fighters in Syria.

Issuing a news briefing at the White House on Wednesday, Trump hailed a “major breakthrough towards achieving a better future for Syria and for the Middle East”.

Trump began by noting that the recent ceasefire established along the Syrian border “has held, and it has held very well, beyond most expectations” and that the Turkish government had informed his administration on Tuesday morning that they would halt combat and make the ceasefire permanent.

“However you would also define the word ‘permanent’ in that part of the world as something questionable,” Trump added.

“But I do believe it will be permanent. I’ve therefore instructed the Secretary of the Treasury to lift all sanctions imposed on October 14th in response to Turkey’s original offensive moves against the Kurds in Syria’s north-east border region.

“The sanctions will be lifted, unless something happens that we’re not happy with,” he continued.

“This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else. No other nation. Very simple. We’re willing to take blame and we’re also willing to take credit. This is something they have been trying to do for many, many decades.”

Trump stated that nations within the region must “take on the responsibility” of helping Turkey and Syria police their border.

A small number of American troops will remain in parts of the country in order to protect oil installations, while Trump also underlined that Turkey must ensure that the Islamic State do not regain Syrian territory.