Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses the West of "siding with terrorists"

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was critical on Monday, October 21st against Western countries, some of which are members of NATO like Ankara.

"You get to believe it - the whole of the West stood with the terrorists and they attacked us all, including the NATO countries and the countries of the European Union. he said in a speech in Istanbul.

On 9 October, Turkey unleashed an offensive in northeastern Syria against the Kurdish militia of the People's Protection Units (YPG), a group it describes as "terrorist" but which is supported by Western countries against the Islamic State Organization (IEO).

The military operation, suspended on Thursday during a fragile truce negotiated between Ankara and Washington - and expected to end Tuesday night - was strongly criticized by the international community, much to the chagrin of Recep Tayyip Erdogan who urges NATO , of which Turkey is one, to show "empathy".

"I thought you were against terrorism, when did you start acting with the terrorists?" The Turkish president scolded Monday. "Have the YPG become a member of NATO without my being warned?"

Meeting Tuesday with Vladimir Putin

According to Ankara, the military operation against the YPG aims to establish a "security zone" separating the Turkish border from the territories controlled by Kurdish fighters.

On Thursday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence reached an agreement to stop fighting for "120 hours" until Tuesday night to allow Kurdish forces to withdraw from their positions located in the Turkish "safe area" project.

"Much of the 120 hours is now over," said the Turkish president on Monday. Ankara said the offensive would resume if the YPG did not respect the agreement.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to travel to Russia on Tuesday to meet with his counterpart Vladimir Putin of Syria, a matter on which the two leaders cooperate closely despite their differing interests.

"We will discuss the situation in Syria and, God willing, we will take the necessary measures," said the Turkish president.

With AFP