Expert: US sanctions do not affect Erdogan's plans

To pressure President Erdogan to stop his advance in northern Syria, the US president is now facing sanctions on Turkey.

The sanctions apply to three ministers whose economic assets in the US are frozen. President Trump also raises steel tariffs and stops negotiations on a trade agreement with Turkey worth SEK 1,000 billion.

Trump has declared himself "fully prepared to quickly destroy Turkey's economy if Turkish leaders continue along this dangerous and destructive path."

- The Turkish president is in the process of positioning himself in the power vacuum that has emerged since the US withdrew from the area. Erdogan has a lot to gain in terms of national security in the complicated game in the region. It is noteworthy that the United States imposes sanctions on a NATO ally, says Björn Ottosson, political scientist and researcher at the Total Defense Research Institute, FOI.

He believes that it was irresponsible and inconsiderate of President Trump to withdraw American soldiers from the area without a well thought out strategy.

- But everything that happens must be seen in the light of the upcoming US presidential election. Trump has promised his voters not to risk American lives for the interests of others. His policy has been to use economic weapons instead of military means, as in the case of Iran, Björn Ottosson tells SVT News.

Neither do the Democratic candidates in the presidential election have advocated military action against Iran, according to Björn Ottosson.

- President Trump has signaled his intention to withdraw American soldiers from Syria since the turn of the year. But the decision was poorly rooted and aroused strong reactions in both political camps. Now he is committed to trying to limit the effects of the damage and punish Turkey's President Erdogan with financial sanctions, says Björn Ottosson.