Germany, France halt arms exports to Turkey

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas speaks during a joint press conference held EU Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (not seen) following their meeting in the German federal foreign ministry on September 23, 2019 in Berlin, Germany.[Abdülhamid Hoşbaş/Anadolu Agency]

Germany and France announced Saturday they halted arms export to Turkey, Anadolu Agency reports.

“Against the backdrop of the Turkish military offensive in northeastern Syria, the Federal Government will not grant new permits for any military equipment that could be used in Syria by Turkey,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told local newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Separately, French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly also said that her government decided to stop arms export to Turkey amid the latter’s newly launched operation in Syria.

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“While France is waiting the cessation of Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria, it decided to suspend any plans to exports war materials to Turkey which could possibly used in the operation,” Parly said on Twitter.

Turkey on Wednesday launched Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

Turkey considers the PKK/YPG to be terrorist organisations.

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