America Must Intervene in Turkey’s Cross-Border Attack

The administration of Turkish President Recep Erdoğan, defying international (including European) opposition, has initiated military operations against Kurdish forces in the northern part of the neighboring country of Syria.

The Kurds have retaliated, and there are many casualties, including among civilians.

We are anxious about the deepening of the humanitarian crisis, which has persisted for eight and a half years during the civil war in Syria, with a new outflux of refugees. Turkey should cease its assault at once.

One big worry is that the Sunni extremist organization known as the Islamic State could ride the unrest to a revival. There are reportedly over 10,000 former fighters detained in this region.

The United Nations Security Council was unable to show a unified perspective on this matter. Britain, France, Germany and others insist upon a “termination” of the fighting, but this has gone nowhere, thanks to America’s lack of support.

Turkey considers its own Kurdish armed organizations to be the same as Syria’s Kurdish forces. But Syrian Kurds were in a cooperative relationship with the U.S. military in the mopping-up operations against the IS group.

Despite this, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that he would not interfere with Turkey’s attack. This is equivalent to disregarding the Kurdish forces that were the primary element in the ground war against the IS group. In fact, Turkey’s cross-border assault began immediately after the American army withdrew from the region.

Around the world, America aids allied countries and allied forces, and fulfills a cooperative role with them to safeguard against terrorism and maintain freedom of navigation. This maneuver damages its partners’ trust.

The American military withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 invited the rise of the IS. The Syrian Civil War worsened when the previous administration of Barack Obama hesitated to intervene militarily.

The U.S. military has a big presence in the Middle East, and its apathy cannot be allowed. It should request that Turkey stop its attack.

Trump likely hastened the American military’s withdrawal, in light of next year’s presidential elections. For the leader of a great power, this is nothing but irresponsible.

Of course, it is also necessary for allies like Japan to make efforts to reduce America’s burden. We cannot shrug it off as a faraway region’s problem. If a situation like the revival of the IS group developed, the world would face the threat of terrorism and the spread of extremist ideologies.

The government of Shinzō Abe has repeatedly expressed its wish to contribute to a relaxation of tensions in the Middle East, where America has confronted Iran. The prime minister also has a positive relationship with Erdoğan. We want him to play a part in stabilizing the whole Middle East.