News is gathering that Assad regime soldiers are on their way to border towns in the north of the country. There threatens a military conflict with Turkish troops. They invaded the north to expel the ruling Kurdish militia YPG. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn is following this development with great concern.
He warns of the possibility that the Turkish invasion of northern Syria will drag the NATO states into the war. "For me that's pretty alien, what happens there," said Asselborn the Bavarian radio. He referred to agreements between the Syrian Kurds and the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The Foreign Minister of Luxembourg called the Turkish campaign "a crime". As a NATO member, Turkey is linked to Germany, the USA and other states through a support pact.
"Imagine Syria or allies of Syria strike back and attack Turkey," said Asselborn. "I said Nato member, then I say Article 5. That means that the assistance pact exists." In German, this means that if NATO were attacked, then all NATO countries would have to step in to help Turkey I say extraterrestrially. "
Asselborn called on the EU foreign ministers to decide at their meeting on Monday afternoon to stop arms to Turkey. "What makes me feel positive is that Germany, France, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden have already said that," he said. "But you also know that Erdogan does not get the weapons from Europe, he has other sources to get weapons for this operation."
