Donald Trump's retro-pedaling. After announcing Sunday to leave the field open to a Turkish offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria, the US president warned Turkey against any excesses. A statement made Monday, October 7 in confusion and under the pressure of his own camp.

"If Turkey does anything that I believe, in my great and unparalleled wisdom, that it exceeds the limits, I will destroy and completely destroy the economy of Turkey," tweeted Monday evening the President of the United States .

His government officials, meanwhile, have been working to stand out from any military operation in Ankara and minimize the departure of US troops deployed near the Turkish border: only 50 to 100 members of the special forces "redeployed to other bases inside Syria", and by no means a generalized "withdrawal".

"It's time to get out of these ridiculous wars"

In the wake of a phone call between Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the White House had yet created a surprise Sunday night announcing the withdrawal of US forces stationed in this region. It justified this decision by the fact that Turkey was preparing to implement "its long-planned operation" against the Kurdish militiamen of the People's Protection Units (YPG), allied to Washington in the fight against the jihadists .

"It's time for us to get out of these ridiculous and endless wars, many of which are tribal, and bring our soldiers home," the Republican billionaire, tweeted early Monday morning, endorsing the idea of ​​a withdrawal. wider, if not total, of Syria.

The protagonists involved in the Syrian conflict, including Turkey and the Kurds, "will now have to resolve the situation," he added. The United States had until then consistently opposed a military clash between its two allies and pledged to "protect" the Kurds from a Turkish "massacre".

Indignation among the Republicans

The wave of reprobation did not take long in the United States, even in the camp of the president, who, facing an impeachment procedure, yet more than ever needs the support of elected Republicans.

Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator, often ready to defend him, called him to "come back" on this "disaster-worrisome" withdrawal. "It's going to lead to the return of the Islamic State group.For the jihadists, there is nothing better than a conflict between the Kurds and Turkey.I think most members of Congress are of this opinion and we will adopt a resolution urging the President to reconsider his decision. "

Same worried reaction of Nikki Haley, former United States ambassador to the United Nations and rising figure of the Republican Party. "We must always support our allies if we expect them to support us.The Kurds have a crucial role in our successful fight against the Islamic State in Syria, and letting them die is a huge mistake."

Despite the change of tone in the White House, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said it was useful to push the point, warning that a "hurried" departure from Syria would benefit Russia and Iran.

And, reinforcing the sense that Ankara had received a form of American green light, President Erdogan warned that his offensive could now be launched "without warning."

UN fears "worst"

The rest of the international community has also warned against the consequences of a Turkish offensive, like the UN that says it is "preparing for the worst" in case of a new humanitarian crisis in Syria, where the conflict has since 2011 millions of displaced and refugees and has claimed the lives of more than 370,000 people.

France urged Turkey to "avoid an initiative" that would undermine the fight against the Islamic State group. She also pleaded for the detention of foreign jihadists, including many French, in camps in northeastern Syria under Kurdish control remains "safe".

For if American officials are now hammering out having given no "green light" to a Turkish operation, they also confirm that the United States will not stop there militarily. For the moment, they are trying to put pressure on Ankara by threatening economic reprisals, and saying that in the event of an offensive, the Turkish authorities would be "fully responsible" for the humanitarian situation, a resurgence of the IS and the fate of foreign jihadists held by Kurdish forces.

With AFP