BICOM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled a planned meeting with US National Security Advisor John Bolton in Ankara yesterday, in protest at Bolton’s statement that the US would only leave Syria if Turkey did not attack Kurdish forces.

On Sunday, Bolton told a press conference in Israel that there is no fixed timetable for the withdrawal of American forces from Syria and said: “There are objectives that we want to accomplish that condition the withdrawal. We don’t think the Turks ought to undertake military action that’s not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States at a minimum so they don’t endanger our troops – but also so that they meet the President’s requirement that the Syrian opposition forces that have fought with us are not endangered.”

In a speech to the Turkish Parliament, Erdogan said the US demand was ‘not acceptable’. He added: “Bolton made a serious mistake. If he thinks that way, he is in (sic) a big mistake. We will not compromise.” Erdogan also said that the (YPG’s) fight with the Islamic State is a huge lie” and Turkey would “not make concessions.” The Turkish Government consider the YPG, the main Kurdish force in Syria, to be closely allied with the PKK, a banned terrorist organisation in Turkey.

The Communications Director of the Turkish Presidency said he hoped Bolton: “Got a taste of the world famous Turkish hospitality during his visit.”

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, is currently visiting eight countries in the Middle East including Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf states. At his first stop in Amman, he sought to assuage US allies concerned about the unpredictability of the US administration. Pompeo said: “The counter-Iran coalition is just as effective today, as it was yesterday, and I am very hopeful it will continue to be effective”. He vowed that the US is planning to “redouble diplomatic and commercial efforts to put real pressure on Iran.”

Jordan’s foreign minister said: “We all have problems with Iran’s expansionist policies in the region. We all want to make sure that whatever threat there is, is mitigated”. Pompeo is expected to give a major policy speech in Cairo on Thursday.