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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a meeting of his party, the AKP, in Ankara on October 10, 2019. Murat Kula / Presidential Press Office / Handout via REUTERS

On Thursday, the Turkish president threatened to open the gates of Europe to millions of refugees in response to criticism of Turkish intervention against a Kurdish militia in northeastern Syria.

The message is crystal clear. " O European Union, take it back. I say it again, if you try to present our operation as an invasion, we will open the doors and send you 3.6 million migrants, "said Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday in a speech in Ankara.

Turkey is perhaps the only country whose presence in Syria is currently legitimate.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkish President

10/10/2019 - by Anne Andlauer Play

Turkey hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees on its soil. The flow of migrants from Turkey to Europe has dried up considerably thanks to an agreement concluded in 2016 between Ankara and the EU .

► See also: Turks say progress in Syria, Russia wants to open dialogue

European countries have strongly criticized the operation launched Wednesday by Turkey in northeastern Syria against a Kurdish militia, the YPG, considered as a terrorist by Ankara but supported by Westerners because it is the spearhead of the fight against the jihadists of the Islamic State group.

I condemn the unilateral operation launched by Turkey in Syria. It calls into question the security and humanitarian efforts of the Coalition against Daesh and risks undermining the security of Europeans. She must stop. The Security Council is seized.

Jean-Yves Le Drian (@JY_LeDrian) October 9, 2019

The Turkish President continued: " You have never been sincere. Now they say they will block three billion euros [promised to Turkey under the migration agreement]. Have you ever respected a promise made to us? No [...] With the help of God, we will continue our way, but we will open the doors "to the migrants.

More conciliatory on the issue of jihadist prisoners

But on another issue that worries Europeans, that of the possible return of jihadists currently held by the Kurds, Erdogan wanted more conciliatory. The day before, his spokesman had called on the EU countries to " take back " their nationals. " We will do what is necessary with the prisoners of the IS [...]. Those who have to stay in prison, we will keep them there, and we will send the others back to their country of origin, if they accept them, "said the Turkish president on Thursday.

In addition, Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended himself from targeting the Kurds in general, claiming that the YPG were the sole target of the offensive.

(with AFP)