Erdogan angry over US funding for Kurds

A decision by the United States to continue to fund the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia will affect Turkey’s decisions, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday, ahead of a visit this week by the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.

US officials said Mr Tillerson expects to have difficult conversations when he visits Turkey tomorrow and Friday, given that the Nato members have diverging interests in Syria.

Turkey has been enraged by US support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara considers a terrorist organisation and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Washington has backed the YPG in the fight against ISIL in Syria.

“Our ally’s decision to give financial support to the YPG … will surely affect the decisions we will take,” Mr Erdogan told members of his AK Party.

The US Department of Defence’s 2019 budget includes funds to fight ISIL in Syria.

Turkey last month launched an incursion into Syria to sweep the YPG from its border.

It has also threatened to press on to the Syrian town of Manbij, under the control of a YPG-led force, and has warned American troops stationed there not to get in the way.

Washington said it has no plans to withdraw its soldiers.

“It is very clear that those who say ‘we will respond aggressively if you hit us’ have never experienced an Ottoman slap,” Mr Erdogan said in parliament.