15 January
Turkey has reacted sharply to US President Donald Trump's threat of economic devastation if Turkish forces attack US-allied Kurds in Syria.
Turkey hinted that it will attack the Kurdish YPG militant group after Trump announced plans to pull out US troops from Syria last month. Turkey considers the group a terrorist organization although it has been a US ally in the fight against Islamic State militants.
Trump tweeted on Sunday that the United States "will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds."
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that his country is not afraid of any threat. He added that nothing will be achieved by threatening Turkey economically.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Trump in a phone call on Monday that Turkey's aim is to fight terrorists. Erdogan reportedly did not rule out the possibility of attacking the Kurdish YPG.
NHK
