The President-elect of the United States (US), Donald Trump, assessing the latest developments in Syria, uttered the expression “President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a very intelligent and very strong man”.
At a press conference in Maralago, Florida, Donald Trump made statements on the recent developments in Syria that led to the overthrow of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
“Türkiye is very intelligent. (President Erdogan) He is a very intelligent and very strong man. I can say that Assad is a butcher for what he has committed towards children. The United States can cooperate with Turkey in the region,” Trump said.
To a journalist’s question “What will he do with the 900 US troops in Syria?”, Donald Trump replied:
“There has to be another way to do it. One of these is that of Türkiye.
Turkey is an important power. President Erdogan is someone I get along with. It has great military power. And this power was not exhausted in wars. He built a very strong and effective army. The United States could be more effective in Syria together with NATO ally Turkey.
Turkey is behind the forces advancing into Syria and this is not a problem. The key to Syria will be in the hands of Turkey. You’ve never heard anyone say this, but this is the situation.”
