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Erdogan reportedly called Maduro on Wednesday to confirm Turkeys support for his dictatorship after the National Assembly, the only democratic institution left in the country, swore in Juan Guaid as the legitimate president of Venezuela. The Venezuelan constitution requires the people to reject the legitimacy of a leader who either violates human rights or disturbs the democratic order, both of which Maduro is guilty of doing.

The United States has recognized Guaid, previously the president of the National Assembly, as the legitimate president and, as such, will disregard any authority Maduro claims to have.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Erdogan said he was shocked that the Trump administration would not support Maduro, even though Trump made opposition to socialism in Venezuela a pillar of his 2016 presidential campaign.

I was shocked by Trumps attitude [to the situation in Venezuela]. It is necessary to respect the person who won the election. We are coming out against any anti-democratic actions, Erdogan said. If Maduro takes a tough stance I believe the Venezuelan people will back their elected president.

Erdogan went on to accuse those who did not respect election results of being totalitarian.

Maduro held a presidential election in May 2018 in which he blocked all non-Marxist opposition candidates. He ran against several Chavista loyalists and the Communist Party of Venezuela. The opposition, which contained some soft-socialist elements, called for ageneral boycott of the election as they could not participate in it. The abstention rate in the election, according to some estimates, was over 80 percent, and observers noted the use of violence and intimidation to ensure voters chose Maduro at the ballot.

Erdogan held his own rigged presidential election in June, blocking most opposition candidates from television and competing against one candidate, Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) candidate Selahattin Demirtas, imprisoned for dissident statements against the regime. While not as clearly fraudulent as Maduros Erdogan did allow for the secularist opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) to run a candidate, if not nearly outright banning him from media appearances the Turkish presidential race still elicited global condemnation for being held in an intimidating and unfair environment.

In addition to public statements Thursday, Erdogan reportedly personally called Maduro on Wednesday to offer his support. According to Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan said, Maduro brother, stand tall, Turkey stands with you.

Turkish state media has also begun attacking the United States, blaming Washington, DC, for Guaids inauguration. The administration in Washington had merely accepted his status as president as per the constitution of Venezuela and had not previously made any moves to impose his leadership on Venezuela.

The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency nonetheless published an infographic Thursday accusing America of a long history of fueling coups, including alleged support for Alberto [sic] Pinochet in Chile and various Middle East strongmen.

The U.S. supported coups not only in nearby countries and regions like Central America but also in the Mideast, Europe, andFarEast, causing sorrow, deaths, and underdevelopment, Anadolu alleged.

Turkey joins Russia, Iran, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, Cuba, Bolivia, the Palestinian Authority, and a small number of other totalitarian regimes in recognizing Maduro over Guaid.

Erdogan has spent years cultivating the relationship with Maduro despite the fact that Erdogans Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) claims to be a right-wing, anti-socialist party. During the early years of his presidency, Erdogan won support by promoting free market, capitalist reforms to the Turkish economy and has continued to face opposition from much of the secularist Turkish left. Yet he has also embraced relationships with some of the worlds most prominent failed socialist governments, with Venezuelas at the top of the list.

Erdoganinvited Maduro to a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation last year and his inaugurationlast July. The relationship appeared to culminate this month with Venezuela agreeing to allow Turkey to refinethousands of tons of gold ore from the South American country, which is a lucrative business for Turkey.

Erdogan promised last month that Turkey would cover [Venezuelas] necessities economically in exchange for access to its natural resources, including providing funding to develop a large mosque in Caracas, despite a negligible Muslim population in the majority-Catholic country.

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Turkey's Erdogan: 'Maduro Brother, Stand Tall' in Venezuela

ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is telling his embattled Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, to "stand tall" in the face of national and international calls to step down amid a political crisis.

Maduro's opponents accuse him of undermining democracy. He has presided over skyrocketing inflation, a collapsing economy and widespread shortages of basic goods.

Erdogan said Thursday he was shocked at U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president.

In response to the announcement, Maduro said Wednesday he was ending diplomatic relations with the United States and ordered U.S. diplomats to leave within 72 hours. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Maduro no longer has the authority to do so.

Erdogan maintained that Maduro will prevail "If he continues to stand strong in the path he believes in."

"Maduro, brother, stand tall. Turkey stands with you," Erdogan told Maduro by telephone, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted Thursday.

"I thank Russia, China, Turkey, and other governments and people of the world for their strong support of the legitimately established government of Venezuela," Maduro said in a Twitter post. "Venezuela is not alone!" he added.

Despite the religiously conservative Erdogan and the left-wing Maduro coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum, the two leaders have built a strong relationship.

Maduro is a regular visitor to Turkey. He attended the Turkish president's inauguration, while Erdogan visited Venezuela last year. Maduro provoked widespread condemnation after images of him dining at a famous Istanbul steak house went viral. Many Venezuelans are struggling to find enough to eat due to widespread food shortages.

"The support of Erdogan is vital for Maduro," said Esra Akgemci of Turkey's Selcuk University.

"It is clear that Maduro sees Turkey as a strategic alliance and wants to build deeper relations," she added. "The support of Erdogan is more discursive. Erdogan himself had also suffered from a coup attempt [in 2016] and could not find the support he was seeking from the EU and USA, so supporting Maduro against a probable coup would strengthen his position both in internal and international politics."

During the visit to Caracas, Erdogan pledged that Turkish companies would invest over $4.5 billion in Venezuela. Turkey has an agreement to process tons of Venezuelan gold; a move interpreted as a possible way to circumvent future U.S. sanctions. Turkish Airlines continues daily flights to Caracas, while many other international carriers have stopped service.

Turkish media are also strongly backing Maduro, accusing Washington of seeking to bring down a democratically elected president. "U.S.-backed coup attempt, this time in Venezuela," read one headline.

"Massive U.S. pressure on any country could devastate its economy, finances, and politics easily. President Maduro's principled resistance against these international pressures is exemplary," wrote columnist Hakki Ocal in the pro-government Sabah newspaper.

Murat Yetkin, a well-known liberal journalist tweeted, "U.S.'s post-modern coup attempt in Venezuela cannot be accepted. The suffering of the people who live in the country with the richest oil reserves under the Maduro administration doesn't change that. The decision cannot be taken by the U.S. or Trump. Next, there might be an occupation, by the U.S. or its collaborators."

Drawing parallels

Turkish media have drawn parallels between Turkey and Venezuela, after Trump, in a tweet this month, threatened to "devastate" the Turkish economy if Ankara attacked U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish rebels.

In Turkey;'s deeply politically polarized society there is a rare consensus in support of Maduro.

"Most of the people here who can't find Venezuela let alone Caracas on the map, are all fully behind Maduro," said former senior Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen, "because they think the U.S. again is behind a coup or military intervention, as they did previously in Libya as they did in Egypt, as they did in Iraq. From the most hard core Islamist to the most hard core leftist today in Turkey, there is anti-Americanism. It is deep. It is fervent."

The social media hashtag #WeAreMaduro, became one of the leading trending topics in Turkey, with many Turks posting images and comments in support for Maduro. The picture of Maduro holding an ancient Turkic flag is widely circulated.

Turkey and Latin America share similar histories of coups throughout the 1960s, '70s and '80s. Many in Turkey accuse the U.S. of being involved in the military takeovers. Turkish ministers openly accused the U.S. of being involved in the 2016 coup attempt, a charge Washington has denied.

Erdogan's support for Maduro is expected to continue. Analysts point out standing up to what is deemed as "American imperialism" plays well in Turkey, and critical local elections are due to March; however, former diplomat Selcen suggests such support will remain mostly empty words.

"It's mainly rhetoric," said Selcen."There are some rumors that if things go south for Maduro, he can perhaps find refuge in Turkey. But I believe it's just about pleasing the crowd. When it comes to Venezuela, Turkey does not have the capacity to extend support to Venezuela. It's out of area."

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Turkey's Erdogan Stands Firm With Venezuela's Maduro

ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turkey is ready to take over security in Syrias Manbij, where four U.S. citizens died in an Islamic State-claimed bombing last week, President Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump in a telephone call on Sunday, the Turkish presidency said.

FILE PHOTO - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Turkey, January 15, 2019. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Erdogan told Trump that the suicide bombing in Manbij, a town in northeast Syria controlled by a militia allied to U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, was a provocative act aimed at affecting Trumps decision last month to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

Trump confounded his own national security team with a surprise decision on Dec. 19 to withdraw all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, declaring the Islamic State militant group had been defeated there, a view not shared by many experts.

Manbij, which U.S.-backed forces captured from Islamic State in 2016, has emerged as a focal point of tensions after Trumps decision to withdraw U.S. forces whose presence has effectively deterred Turkey from attacking Kurdish forces.

Manbij is controlled by U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a militia allied to the U.S.-backed Kurdish YPG. Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist group and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that has for decades waged a separatist insurgency in Turkey.

In its description of the call, the White House made no mention of Erdogans offer to take over security in Manbij but said the two men agreed to keep pursuing a negotiated settlement for northeastern Syria that meets both nations security needs.

President Trump underscored the importance of defeating terrorist elements that remain in Syria, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a description of the call.

The two leaders agreed to continue to pursue a negotiated solution for northeast Syria that achieves our respective security concerns. They also discussed their mutual interest in expanding the trade relationship between the United States and Turkey, the spokeswoman added.

Trump has previously warned Turkey not to attack the Kurds in Syria and appeared to threaten Turkeys economy if it did.

In its statement, the Turkish presidency also said that the two leaders had agreed to accelerate discussions between their chiefs of staff about a safe zone in northeastern Syria.

Last week, Trump suggested creating a safe zone, without elaborating. The SDF said on Wednesday it was ready to help create a safe zone, as fears grow that the U.S. withdrawal will give Turkey the opportunity to mount a new assault.

Turkey wants the zone to be cleared of the Kurdish group.

Reporting by Sarah Dadouch in Istanbul and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Additional reporting by Tulay Karadeniz and Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Peter Cooney

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Erdogan: Turkey is ready to take over Syria's Manbij | Reuters

Erdogan conditioned setting up the safe zone on clearing the area of the U.S.-backed Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG/YPJ), who Ankara believes are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) communist terrorist group, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Mr. Trump once again confirmed his decision to withdraw from Syria. He also spoke about a security zone more than 30 kilometers [about 18 miles] deep inside [Syria], which would be set up by us, an issue that I had raised during the Obama administration, Erdogan declared during his weekly address to Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday in Ankara, Hurriyet notes.

We had suggested securing the ground if the U.S. would provide aerial protection. [Former U.S. President Barack] Obama did not take the necessary steps on it although he was in favor of it, he added.

The Turkish president explained that safe zone negotiations between the United States and Turkey were still needed to define what logistics the U.S. and its coalition partners will provide for securing the territory and reconstructing the area after the return of Syrian refugees.

We can be involved in this with our TOK [Turkeys urban development agency]. But if financial support would be provided by our coalition partners, we can establish this secure zone and provide security for all these people. This would also stop migration, Erdogan noted.

For months, the Turkish military has been preparing to launch an operation against fighters from the YPG, the armed wing of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) that has maintained control over most of northern Syria with the help of U.S. troops fighting the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) in the area.

Referring to the safe zone, Erdogan said, Can the YPG take part in such a project? They are terrorists. Can we leave this area to the terrorists? For us, there is no difference between [ISIS] and the YPG/PYD.

Although Ankara has long accused the YPG of being affiliated to PKK terrorists, the United States continues to provide support to the Kurdish fighters, arguing that they are the most effective force against ISIS.

News of the potential safe zone for Kurds came days after Trump, via Twitter, threatened to devastate Turkey economically if Turkish forces attack the Kurds in Syria after the United States planned withdrawal.

This tweet has saddened us. Why? Because we are strategic partners. We may have different positions on some issues, but we should be locked on the same objectives, Erdogan said on Tuesday, referring to the American presidents remarks.

In responding to the tweet, the Erdogan administration also saidit would be a fatal mistake to consider Ankaras operation against the YPG, an attack against all Kurds, separating the militia group from the predominantly Kurdish population in northern Syria.

Trump revisited the notion in his tweet of establishing a security zone inside Syria to address Ankaras Kurdish-linked security concerns.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton recently said Americas withdrawal from Syria would be contingent upon assurances from Turkey that the Kurds will be safe, which Ankara failed to provide. However, it appears Erdogan has changed his mind.

In the wake of Trumps tweet threatening Turkey over the Kurds, the U.S. leader spoke to Erdogan on Monday to discuss the recent developments.

Citing a read out by the Turkish presidency, Hurriyet notes that the leaders discussed the idea of forming a terror-free safe zone in the north of Syria by Syrias territorial integrity.

We have decided to take comprehensive and speedy steps to increase our trade volume to $75 billion. Therefore, we could strengthen our joint perspective in spreading the positive spirit on our ties over Syria to the economic sphere as well, Erdogan reportedly said on Tuesday, referring to the call.

President Trump has announced plans to pull out American troops from Syria, but Bolton indicated a residual force would remain in the country to combat Irans growing influence.

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Erdogan: Turkey Considering Setting Up 'Safe Zones' for Kurds ...

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

President Trumps surprise announcement that the United States was pulling all its troops out of Syria caught everyone by surprise. He quickly backed off of an immediate withdrawal or seemed to and then the Pentagon announced that the withdrawal was underway.

Or not. Both Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton spent a week visiting our Middle Eastern allies (with one notable exception) to assure them that we werent going to leave unless certain conditions were met.

The principal condition was that the Kurdish forces would not be abandoned to the murderous intentions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr. Erdogan refused to meet with Mr. Bolton during his swing through the Middle East.

Publicly, the steadiest hands in these debates are Messrs. Pompeo and Bolton. But their voices only translate what Mr. Trumps policies really are. Such was the case on Jan. 10 when Mr. Pompeo gave what was, so far, the best foreign policy speech of the Trump era.

Addressing an audience at American University in Cairo, which included Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, Mr. Pompeo made it clear that the mistakes made in former President Obamas Middle East policies were rejected by Mr. Trump.

Mr. Pompeo recited three mistakes stated by Mr. Obama in his 2009 speech at the same university: First, that radical Islamic terrorism does not stem from ideology; second, that the 9-11 attacks led America to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East; and third, that the United States and the Muslim world needed a new beginning. It was a direct condemnation of Mr. Obamas policies that Mr. Trump could have, and probably should have, made himself.

Mr. Pompeo said that our penchant for wishful thinking led to our failure to help Irans revolutionaries in the 2009 Green revolution, and to look the other way as Hizballah, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iranian regime, accumulated a massive arsenal of approximately 130,000 rockets and missiles all pointed at Israel.

He said that our reluctance to act emboldened Iran and allowed its regime to spread its cancerous influence to Yemen, to Iraq, to Syria and still further to Lebanon. Regarding Syria, Mr. Pompeo noted that while Mr. Trump has ordered our withdrawal from Syria, our mission there hasnt changed. In blunt language, he said that U.S. airstrikes in the area will continue as targets arise. Which could be very often.

Mr. Pompeo left no doubt that the United States would neither cease its efforts to defeat ISIS, al Qaeda and other terrorist networks nor will we cease our efforts to stop Iran from spreading its malevolent influence in the region. His message was clear: America is not reluctant to act and will do so whenever circumstances require that we do.

Four days before Mr. Pompeos speech, Mr. Bolton who was speaking for the president said that our withdrawal from Syria was conditioned on an agreement with Turkey that protected the Kurdish forces that have been fighting alongside our troops in Syria. That remark brought an angry response from Mr. Erdogan saying that Turkey wouldnt compromise, meaning that there will be no such agreement and that he still intends to kill all the Kurdish troops when we leave Syria.

Then, on Jan. 13, Mr. Trump tweeted the threat that we would devastate Turkeys economy if it attacked the Kurds and suggested that a 20-mile safe zone be established to protect them. The following day, in a conversation with Mr. Erdogan, Mr. Trump evidently made him an offer he couldnt refuse, reiterating that America would devastate Turkeys economy if Mr. Erdogan carried out his threat to attack the Kurds. Mr. Erdogan surrendered to Mr. Trumps demand.

The call took place on Monday, and on Tuesday Mr. Erdogan agreed that there would be a 20-mile-wide safe zone for the Kurds along Turkeys border with the Kurdish-held area of Syria.

How to protect the Kurds, and by what means, is one of the most important questions facing Mr. Trump. The oil-rich Kurdish territory of northern Iraq is prized by the Turks, Iraqis and Iranians. Mr. Erdogan fervently desires to capture all of the Kurdish territory in southeastern Turkey and northeastern Syria.

The situation is a bit analogous to that which faced the victorious Allied powers when they met in Paris in 1919 to divide the world and decide which nations would rule its parts. Margaret Mitchells history of that period, Paris 1919, explains that an independent Kurdistan even an autonomous Kurdish region of Turkey was considered and then rejected for lack of interest and because the Kurds were too weak to represent themselves effectively.

The Trump-Erdogan agreement on the safe zone doesnt, by a long shot, establish an independent Kurdistan. It will only last until Mr. Erdogan believes he cant get away with violating it. Moreover, Iran, Turkey and Iraq arent bound by it.

But the agreement buys at least a little time for Mr. Trump to further his policies as explained in Mr. Pompeos speech. Iran, its proxy Hezbollah, and Russia are accelerating the pace of their aggression. Mr. Trump needs to match their pace to get ahead of their moves with our own.

If our adversaries, and even some of our allies, are confused by our actions thats not a bad thing at all.

Jed Babbin, a deputy undersecretary of Defense in the George H.W. Bush administration, is the author of In the Words of Our Enemies.

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The offer Erdogan couldn't refuse - Washington Times