Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised its Nato allies on Thursday, particularly the US, for not supporting Ankara’s struggle against the Islamic State in Syria.
Erdogan accused the US of supplying weapons to Kurdish fighters in Syria.
“NATO allies must stand by their partner Turkey in Syria, not the terrorist groups,” said the Turkish President, referring to the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Xinhua reported.
“You sent arms to terrorist organisations, then said ‘we sent ammunition, not arms,'” Erdogan said. “We’re not buying it, nor accepting it.”
“Despite our NATO alliance, you support terrorist organisations, instead of us,” the Turkish president said. “Are the terrorist organisations your partners in NATO?”
“If we are NATO strategic partners, then you should support us,” Erdogan said, addressing the US administration.
“Terrorist organisations will eventually attack nations supporting them too,” he warned.