Erdogan accuses the US of supplying arms to ‘terrorists’

Tensions between the Washington and Ankara are set to rise after Turkish President Recep Erdogan accused the US of supplying weapons to Kurdish fighters in Syria.

Erdogan’s speech at the UN summit in New York yesterday will intensify the ongoing row between the two countries who are deeply divided over Kurdish separatists in the region.

The US has allied with the separatist group against Daesh, while Turkey makes no distinction between Daesh and the Syrian Kurdish YPG and its political wing the PYD. The Kurdish groups have been waging a three-decade insurgency against Turkey and have carried out dozens of terrorists strikes on Turkish soil.

Reuters reported that in comments broadcast on Turkish television Erdogan said: “If you think you can finish off Daesh with the YPG and PYD, you cannot, because they are terrorist groups too.”

Speaking to the delegates at the UN, Erdogan added: “Three days ago America dropped two plane loads of weapons in Kobani for these terror groups,” he said he had also raised the issue on Wednesday with US Vice President Joe Biden who denied any knowledge of the drop off.

Erdogan also raised concerns about US arms that were ending up in the hands of Daesh pointing to previous arms deliveries to the Kurdish town of Kobani in 2014 which were seized by Daesh fighters after they gained control of the town.

According to Erdogan’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Kalin, Turkey has ruled out the possibility of joining in any operation by coalition forces against Daesh if YPG fighters are involved.

While Turkey has been a strong member of the coalition against Daesh, having carried out a number of operations to retake territory held by the terrorist group, the gulf between the US and Turkey over Kurdish separatists will continue to be a thorn in their relationship.