Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised NATO for not supporting his country’s ongoing military operation against Syrian Kurdish fighters in Syria.
The president, speaking to reporters on Saturday, asked, “Hey NATO, where are you?” and accused the military alliance of double standards.
Erdogan said NATO member Turkey sent troops to conflict zones when requested, but did not receive support in return.
Turkey launched a solo military offensive against the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units or YPG on January 20 to clear them from Afrin in north-western Syria, reports the Associated Press.
The country considers the YPG a terror organisation, but its NATO ally, the United States, backs the fighters to combat the Islamic State group.
Erdogan urged NATO to come to Turkey’s aid, saying its borders are ‘under threat right now.’