Drew Angerer—Getty Images North America—AFP
President Trump says America should not protect a region where its efforts are ‘not appreciated’
The United States does not want to be the “policeman” of the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday, as he defended his controversial decision to pull U.S. forces out of Syria.
“Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing? Do we want to be there forever? Time for others to finally fight….” he tweeted. Trump added: “Russia, Iran, Syria & many others are not happy about the U.S. leaving, despite what the Fake News says, because now they will have to fight ISIS and others, who they hate, without us. I am building by far the most powerful military in the world. ISIS hits us they are doomed!”
The U.S. president faced intense opposition to his abrupt announcement Wednesday that Islamic State had been defeated in the region, and that he was ordering the 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria to exit the country.
Trump’s decision runs counter to long-established U.S. policy for Syria and the region. It blindsided lawmakers, the Pentagon and international allies alike.
“Getting out of Syria was no surprise,” Trump wrote in an earlier tweet. “I’ve been campaigning on it for years, and six months ago, when I very publicly wanted to do it, I agreed to stay longer. Russia, Iran, Syria & others are the local enemy of ISIS. We were doing there work. Time to come home & rebuild. #MAGA”
The U.S. withdrawal could have major geopolitical ramifications, and plunges into uncertainty the fate of U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters who have been tackling Islamic State jihadists, thousands of whom are thought to remain in Syria.