U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met President Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey on Thursday, Oct. 17, on a mission to persuade him to halt an offensive against Kurdish fighters in northeast Syria, but Turkish officials said the action would continue regardless.
Turkey launched the offensives after President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of American forces from Northern Syria.
Trump said he thought Pence and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan would have a successful meeting, but warned of sanctions and tariffs that “will be devastating to Turkeys economy” otherwise.
Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not speak to reporters before the start of the meeting with Erdogan, but the official said they were likely to convey the same U.S. demands, adding, “However, negotiating with a terrorist organization or turning back from the ongoing operation are not on the agenda.”
On Monday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told CNBC that the United States was prepared to levy additional sanctions if necessary “to keep Turkey in line.”
A top aide to Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, said Turkeys foreign ministry was preparing to retaliate for the saRead More – Source
