President Donald Trump tweeted Monday he saw "great potential to substantially expand" economic development between the United States and Turkey, after threatening Sunday to devastate Turkey's economy if it attacks Kurdish allies in Syria.
Trump, who spoke with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan by phone, also said they discussed "our last two weeks of success in fighting the remnants of ISIS, and 20 mile safe zone" in Syria.
"The president expressed the desire to work together to address Turkey's security concerns in northeast Syria while stressing the importance to the United States that Turkey does not mistreat the Kurds and other Syrian Democratic Forces with whom we have fought to defeat ISIS," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement about the president's Monday call, CNN reported.
She noted Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford will meet with his Turkish counterpart Tuesday "to continue consultations" on Syria.
"Gen. Dunford is scheduled to meet with his Turkish counterpart this week on the sidelines of the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defense Session, which will be held Jan. 15-16 at the NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium," Col. Patrick Ryder, a spokesperson for Dunford told CNN.
Trump's use of an economic incentive for Turkey was in sharp contrast to the president's threat Sunday, when he warned he would devastate the NATO ally's economy if it attacks U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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