Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, strongly criticized the United States on Wednesday, February 10, for not labeling the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the most important Kurdish group in Syria, as a terrorist organization. According to AFP, Erdogan stated that due to U.S. cooperation with Syrian Kurdish groups, the region has now turned into a sea of 'blood.' The U.S. has supported the PYD and its military branch, the People's Protection Units (YPG), in the fight against ISIS since the Islamic State began advancing in Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, Turkey considers both groups as 'terrorist' organizations. Erdogan said, 'O Americans, how many times have we told you? Are you with us or with the terrorist groups of the PYD and YPG?' He added, 'Since you do not consider them (terrorist groups), the region has turned into a sea of blood.' John Kirby, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated on Monday, 'As you know, we do not consider the PYD a terrorist group. Of course, Turkey considers this party terrorist, and we understand this issue. But even the best of friends do not agree on all matters.' These remarks angered Turkish officials, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned John Bass, the U.S. ambassador in Ankara, on Tuesday to protest Kirby's statements. The U.S. and Turkey have differing views on the role of Syrian Kurdish groups in the fight against ISIS. Meanwhile, the armed forces of the YPG, with the support of Arab rebel groups, have recently managed to capture an airport and a city in northern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that Kurdish forces have seized the only military airport that was under the control of Islamist fighters in Aleppo province. In parallel, Syrian Kurds opened their representative office in Moscow on Wednesday, a development that has further alarmed Turkey. The Turkish government considers the PYD and the YPG as part of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey. Turkey is concerned that the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria along its borders will increase demands from Turkish Kurds. In this context, Turkey summoned the U.S. ambassador in Ankara, indicating signs of Turkey's readiness to attack Syria, while the number of PKK casualties in the recent operations of the Turkish army has reached '773.'
Erdogan Criticizes the U.S. for Supporting Syrian Kurds
Turkish President Erdogan criticized the U.S. for not designating the PYD as a terrorist organization, claiming U.S. support for Syrian Kurds has led to bloodshed in the region. This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between Turkey and the U.S. regarding Kurdish groups, which Turkey views as a threat to its national security.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Erdogan criticized the U.S. for supporting Syrian Kurdish groups labeled as terrorists by Turkey.
- Turkish Foreign Ministry protest John Kirby, U.S. State Department spokesperson
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticize United States
- YPG and Arab rebel groups capture airport and city in northern Syria
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. and Turkey remain at odds over the designation of Kurdish groups in Syria.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%