PM defends Donald Trump over the contentious withdrawal of US troop from Syria

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended Donald Trump’ contentious decision over the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria which has technically resulted in Turkey attack on Kurds in the northern Syria.

US President Donald Trump welcomes Prime Minister Scott Morrison to the White House.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison strengthened his close personal relationship with Donald Trump during a recent state visit to the US. Source: Getty

While US President is widely accused of leaving Kurdish allies exposed to an imminent attack from Turkish forces, Mr Morrison said Australia urged restraint on all sides in the Middle East and believed Mr Trump took the same approach, raising no doubts about whether the US could be trusted as an ally.

The Prime Minister said Mr Trump had outlined his intention to withdraw troops from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq one year ago and was now acting on that message.

"I think it would be wrong to not draw an element of consistency between those statements almost a year ago and the action the United States has been taking since, including most recently," he said.

"As is the nature of alliances and friendships, you work through these issues together and you understand them together and you speak frankly to one another and you do that in the spirit of that relationship."

Turkish President Recep Erdogan has ordered troops across the Syrian border to claim ground previously held by Kurdish militias which had worked alongside the US against Islamic State.

Mr Trump has been criticised by Republican colleagues including Senators Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham as well as former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who said it was a "big mistake" to leave the Kurds to die.

The commander of the US Central Command in the three years to March 2019, Joseph Votel, said Mr Trump's decision appeared to abandon Kurdish partners.


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2 min read

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By SBS Korean

Presented by Yang J. Joo

Source: AAP, SBS



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