Donald Trump praises Turkey for agreeing to five-day ceasefire in Syria

Donald Trump has hailed the ceasefire with Turkey as an “incredible outcome”. Back home, even members of his own party are fuming.

Donald Trump has hailed the ceasefire in Syria as an “incredible outcome” and effusively praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling him a “hell of a leader”.

But not everyone is so happy with the deal.

After negotiations with US Vice President Mike Pence overnight, Turkey agreed to pause its offensive in northern Syria for five days to let Kurdish forces withdraw from the territory it’s seeking to capture.

Mr Pence said the ceasefire accomplished America’s goal of ending the bloodshed.

However it also fulfils all the main objectives Turkey announced when it launched the assault eight days ago, drawing international condemnation. Turkey will gain control of a strip of Syria more than 30km deep, and the Kurds will be obliged to pull out.

A Turkish official told Reuters Mr Erdogan got “exactly what we wanted” from the talks.

Mr Erdogan and Mr Pence. Picture: Shaun Tandon/AFP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence in Turkey. Picture: Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidency via Getty Images

And in a press conference after the deal was announced, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu disputed the Americans’ description of it as a ceasefire.

“It’s a pause. This is not a ceasefire. Because a ceasefire takes place between two legitimate parties. The goal of the operation was the removal of terrorists,” he said.

Turkey considers the Kurds to be terrorists. The United States does not.

In fact, the Kurds were America’s most valuable allies in the war against Islamic State. They served on the front lines while the US provided support. More than 11,000 Kurds died in that conflict.

Mr Trump was accused of betraying them when he withdrew US forces from northern Syria after a phone call with Mr Erdogan, leaving the Kurds to fend for themselves as Turkey launched its incursion, killing hundreds and displacing 200,000 civilians.

He has since described that decision as “strategically brilliant”.

Today the President praised Turkey for agreeing to the ceasefire.

“I just want to thank and congratulate President Erdogan. He’s a friend of mine, and I’m glad we didn’t have a problem, because frankly, he’s a hell of a leader, and he’s a tough man, he’s a strong man and he did the right thing. And I really appreciate it,” Mr Trump said.

“I want to thank Turkey. I want to thank all of the people that have gotten together and made this happen. This is an incredible outcome.

“So we have a 22 mile strip, that for many many years, Turkey — in all fairness, they’ve had a legitimate problem with it. They had terrorists, they had a lot of people in there that they couldn’t have. They’ve suffered a lot of loss of lives also. And they had to have it cleaned out.”

He confirmed the sanctions that had been levelled against Turkey as punishment for its invasion would be lifted immediately.

“Obviously the sanctions and tariffs were going to be very biting. I’m glad we don’t have to do it, we’ll be taking them off very quickly, as soon as this is finalised. But this is an incredible outcome. This outcome is something they’ve been trying to get for 10 years, everybody, and they couldn’t get it. Other administrations, and they never would have been able to get it, unless you went somewhat unconventional. I guess I’m an unconventional person,” he said.

“I took a lot of heat from a lot of people, even some of the people in my own party. But they were there, in the end they were there.”

Donald Trump today. Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP

He’s actually still taking heat from members of his own party.

Shortly after the ceasefire was announced, Republican Senator Mitt Romney stood in Congress and delivered a scathing assessment of the US administration’s decision-making in Syria, describing it as “a bloodstain in the annals of American history”.

“The announcement today is being portrayed as a victory. It is far from a victory. Serious questions remain about how the decision was reached precipitously to withdraw from Syria and why that decision was reached,” said Mr Romney, who was the Republican Party’s presidential nominee in 2012.

“Given the initial details of the ceasefire agreement, the administration must also explain what America’s future role will be in the region. What happens now to the Kurds, and why Turkey will face no apparent consequences?

“I hope the agreement is honoured, but at the heart of this matter is a central question of why these terms and assurances were not negotiated before the president consented to withdraw our troops.”

Mr Romney said America’s influence in the region had “diminished” as a result of Mr Trump’s withdrawal, at the expense of Turkey, Russia and Iran.

And he slammed the President for abandoning the Kurds.

“The ceasefire does not change the fact that America has abandoned an ally. Adding insult to dishonour, the administration speaks flippantly as our ally has suffered death and casualty. Their homes have been burned and their families have been torn apart. Our Kurd allies lost 11,000 combatants in our joint effort to defeat ISIS,” he said.

“This is a matter of American honour and promise. So, too, is the principle that we stand by our allies, that we do not abandon our friends. The decision to abandon the Kurds violates one of our most sacred duties. It strikes at American honour.

“Are we so weak and so inept diplomatically that Turkey forced the hand of the United States of America? Turkey?”

Republican Senator Mitt Romney. Picture: Don Emmert/AFP

That sentiment was echoed, as you would expect, by Mr Trump’s political opponents.

“The President’s decision to reverse sanctions against Turkey for brutally attacking our Kurdish partners in exchange for a sham ceasefire seriously undermines the credibility of America’s foreign policy and sends a dangerous message to our allies and adversaries alike that our word cannot be trusted,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

“President Erdogan has given up nothing, and President Trump has given him everything.

“This agreement also does nothing to stop thousands of ISIS prisoners from escaping, and shows the President’s complete lack of strategy to defeat ISIS. To say that Turkey and Syria will guard the prisoners is outrageous and puts our homeland security at risk. ISIS is still a threat, certainly now more than before President Trump gave Erdogan the green light to invade Syria.”