Turkey unease over US training Kurdish militia as border force

Turkish Foreign Ministry on Sunday said the US move to establish a border control force in northern Syria is a "unilateral decision".

In a written statement, the ministry noted that it was not clear with which coalition members the US consulted and has taken the decision to establish such a force, Xinhua reported.

"Explaining the unilateral steps on behalf of the coalition is a very wrong move that could harm the struggle with DEASH," read the statement, using the Arabic acronym of the Islamic State (IS).

"Turkey was determined to eliminate any threat posed against its territory," the ministry said.

Turkey sees YPG as the offshoot of outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"Such initiatives that endanger our national security and the territorial integrity of Syria by continuing the cooperation with the PYD / YPG in contradiction with the commitments and statements of the United States are never acceptable," said the ministry.

The ministry condemned this "wrongful approach" and said Turkey was determined and capable to eliminate all sorts of threats.

On December 22, 2017, US Central Command Commander General Joseph Votel announced they would establish border forces in Syria, which he said would help prevent a resurgence of the IS.

Around 400 militants "trained by US as border guards" are to establish what they call "The North Army" in Syria, Turkish media reported.

Turkey and the US have long been at odds over the latter's support to the Syrian Kurdish militia.

--IANS

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