Heated reactions to 'Operation Peace Spring': From withdrawal of financial aid to an emergency UN Security Council session

(Patria) - Turkish troops, on the orders of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, entered the northeastern part of Syria bordering Turkey on Wednesday with the aim of 'eliminating the threat coming from Kurdish YPG paramilitary forces, ISIL militants', as well as to 'create conditions for the return of Syrian refugees from Turkey to Syria'.

Even before President Erdogan ordered the offensive, there was serious speculation that Turkey would use the 'empty space' after the withdrawal of American troops to deal with Kurdish forces in Syria. The initial statement of the American government that after the withdrawal they 'would not interfere' in Turkish affairs there further encouraged Erdogan's move.

The international community awaited Turkey's predictable move with apprehension, only to strongly condemn it afterwards.

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker stated that Turkey must stop the offensive, warning that the EU will not approve financial aid for the 'safe zone'.

- Turkey must stop the military operation. This will not work. And if Turkey plans to create a safe zone, it should not expect financial aid from the European Union, Juncker said in an address to the European Parliament in Brussels.

'The EU calls on Turkey to stop the unilateral military action,' reads a joint statement from the 28 member states. The EU believes that the 'safe zone' in northeastern Syria as presented by Turkey - 'would not meet international criteria for the return of refugees'.

France, Great Britain, and Germany are demanding a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the Turkish offensive.

French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian condemned the operation which 'threatens the security and humanitarian efforts of the anti-ISIS coalition, and poses a risk to the security of Europeans'.

British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab is also 'seriously concerned' about the Turkish offensive. He issued a statement in which he says, among other things, that (the operation) 'poses a risk of destabilizing the region, increases civilian suffering, and undermines the progress made in the fight against ISIL, which should be our common focus'.

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok summoned the Turkish ambassador after Turkey launched the offensive. Blok claims that 'the Netherlands condemns the offensive in northeastern Syria' and calls on Turkey 'not to continue on the path it has embarked upon'.

Egypt is demanding an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League and 'most strongly condemns the Turkish aggression on Syrian territory', according to a statement from the ministry, adding that the move represents an 'unacceptable attack on the sovereignty of a brotherly Arab state'.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates condemned the offensive in a statement which also says that it 'represents a dangerous development and an unacceptable aggression on the sovereignty of an Arab state contrary to the principles of international law'.

US President Donald Trump emphasized in a statement issued by the White House that 'the US does not approve of this attack', adding that it is a 'bad idea' for which he will 'devastate Turkey's economy if Ankara's offensive in Syria wipes out the Kurdish population there'.

- If that happens, I will wipe out his (Erdogan's) economy. I hope he behaves rationally, Trump said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also joined the reactions, stating that the Turkish operation 'must be controlled' so as not to further destabilize the region. However, he also said that Turkey has 'legitimate reasons for concern' and that it had previously informed NATO about the attack on Kurdish fighters in Syria.

- I count on Turkey to act in a controlled manner and ensure that any action it takes is proportional and measured, Stoltenberg said.

The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors on Thursday.

Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that Turkey sent a diplomatic note to the Syrian consulate in Istanbul to inform them about the operation. He adds that the operation is based on the principles of international law and that Ankara has informed all key actors, including the UN and NATO.

The Turkish president is trying to justify the decision for the offensive, calling European leaders who have expressed criticism - 'insincere'.

At a meeting of the ruling AK Party, Erdogan said that he would open the gates to Europe for the 3.6 million refugees from Syria currently in Turkey if European countries continue to call the Turkish operation an occupation.