US President Donald Trump warned Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey against the incursion into Syria, in a letter which said that he would retaliate to the development by “destroying the Turkish economy.”
In the letter dated 9 October, Trump said: “You don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don't want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy—and I will.”
The letter is from the same day that Turkey launched its attack into the war-torn country—three days after Trump paved the way for the incursion by offering to withdraw US troops.
EXCLUSIVE: I have obtained a copy of @realDonaldTrump’s letter to #Erdogan. @POTUS warns him to not “be a tough guy! Don’t be a fool!” Says he could destroy Turkey’s economy if #Syria is not resolved in a humane way. Details tonight at 8pm #TrishRegan #FoxBusiness pic.twitter.com/9BoSGlbRyt
— Trish Regan (@trish_regan) October 16, 2019
In the letter, in his characteristic style, Trump asked Erdogan not to be “a tough guy” or “a fool”. “History will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way. It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don't happen. Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool!” he wrote.
Trump also encouraged Erdogan to make a deal with Kurdish general Mazloum Kobani, who Turkey had labelled a “terrorist.”