Trump may focus on pulling US forces from Syria after taking office

Turkish Minister of National Defense, Yaşar Güler, has stated that once Donald Trump assumes office as President of the United States, he may prioritise the withdrawal of American forces from Syria.

"During his previous term, Trump issued instructions on three separate occasions to pull US troops out of Syria," Güler said in his statement, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

"However, these decisions were overshadowed by the pre-election period, and the issue was never fully addressed. I believe that now, as president, Trump will focus significantly on this matter. He will likely follow through with his plans to withdraw US forces from Syria and the wider region." the defence minister added.

Meanwhile, in response to questions about future cooperation with the Trump administration regarding the purchase of F-16 fighter jets and the ongoing F-35 issues, the defence chief expressed confidence in the strength of US-Türkiye relations.

"Currently, our relationship with our American partners is very positive, and I foresee no regression in this regard," he added.

Notably, as of early 2024, the United States still maintained nearly 1,000 military personnel in eastern Syria. Recent reports indicate that, amidst escalating tensions in the region, additional troops and resources have been deployed to the war-torn country.

The US forces in Syria are there for several reasons: preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State group, supporting Kurdish allies of Washington, and countering the influence of Iran and Russia, both of which also maintain a military presence in Syria.

However, the costs and risks of this ongoing US involvement could be considerable. Maintaining troops there could entangle America further in a prolonged and expensive conflict without a clear resolution, while also straining relations with NATO ally Türkiye, which sees Syrian Kurdish groups as a cross-border security threat.

By Khagan Isayev