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US Vice President Mike Pence during security conference in Munich this Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. REUTERS / Michael Dalder

The prospect of an impending complete defeat of the Islamic State (IS) organization in Syria is fueling tensions between the United States and its allies. Washington plans to withdraw quickly after such a defeat, and other countries criticize this decision which raises the issue including the protection of the Kurdish minority threatened by Turkey. At the conference for security in Munich, these differences between Washington and the European countries were illustrated in the statements of Chancellor Merkel and US Vice President Mike Pence.

With our special correspondent in Munich, Pascal Thibaut

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke in Munich Friday of a " mystery " surrounding the US intention to withdraw from Syria once the Islamic State organization defeated. Such a withdrawal may favor the influence of Iran in the region while Washington criticizes Tehran. On Saturday morning, US Vice President Mike Pence urged the Europeans to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

In turn, Angela Merkel criticized Washington's withdrawal from Syria . " Is it a good idea for the United States to leave Syria immediately and as soon as possible, or does such withdrawal not allow Russia and Iran to to increase their influence on the spot? "Asks the Chancellor.

The departure of the 2,000 US troops from Syria is expected in the coming weeks, as the Islamic State is about to be defeated in its last cut in Syria.

US Vice President Mike Pence strove in Munich to reassure his allies. " The United States will retain a significant presence in the region and will continue to fight with its allies to fight anytime and anywhere against ISIS activity ," said Mike Pence.

But that will probably not be enough to reassure US allies irritated by the announcement of a quick withdrawal of Washington from Syria. The Americans are asking them to form an "observer force" in the north-east to guarantee the security of Syrian Kurdish allies threatened by Ankara. A proposal that has been rejected.

► (Re) read: Munich Conference: The role of Europe in debate