Spanish Foreign Minister Criticizes US Plans To Withdraw Troops From Syria

Umer Jamshaid Published December 23, 2018 | 12:37 AM

US President Donald Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria creates uncertainty both in terms of the coalition's counterterrorism fight and wider "geostrategic consequences," Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said on Saturday.

MADRID (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd December, 2018) US President Donald Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria creates uncertainty both in terms of the coalition's counterterrorism fight and wider "geostrategic consequences," Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said on Saturday.

"President Trump's unexpected decision to withdraw US troops from Syria raises some questions and creates uncertainty. On the one hand, the complete defeat of jihadist terrorism in Syria is far from a fait accompli, and, hence, there are serious doubts about how the coalition against the IS [the Islamic State terrorist group, banned in Russia] will continue to operate. On the other, the new situation may complicate the process that the UN is trying to put into action. In addition, there are questions about [potential] changes to the presence of Russia and Iran in the country � with ensuing geostrategic consequences," Borrell tweeted.

The minister noted that such situations proved the "need for real strategic autonomy of Europe," adding however that he did not question the importance of NATO.

According to Borrell, the resignation of US Defense Secretary James Mattis also "creates a significant gap" in the US future strategy.

The statement comes after White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday that the United States began the pullout of its forces from Syria. She noted that the troops' withdrawal did not mean the end of the US-led international coalition's fight against the IS. The statement followed President Donald Trump's remark over the IS defeat in Syria. Trump added on Saturday that "local countries," including Turkey, should be able to easily deal with remaining members of the IS in Syria after the US withdrawal.