European security Turkey deliberately “unleashing” ISIS terrorists into Europe: King Abdullah

King Abdullah of Jordan asserted that Turkey is exporting ISIS-linked terrorists to Europe.

The king made the remarks in a meeting with members of Congress, in which he said that Islamist militants were being “manufactured in Turkey” and “unleashed” into Europe. 

He also used the briefing with lawmakers, which was held after the king’s meeting with President Barack Obama was cancelled, to remind the American politicians of Turkey’s complicity in buying ISIS oil. 

“The fact that terrorists are going to Europe is part of Turkish policy,” said King Abdullah. “Turkey keeps on getting a slap on the hand, but they are let off the hook.” 

The king, saying that the Turkish president Tayyip Erdoğan believe in a “radical Islamic solution to the region,” added that “Turkey sought a religious solution to Syria, while we are looking at moderate elements in the south and Jordan pushed for a third option that would not allow a religious option.”

Middle East Eye reports that the meeting took place on 11 January, but that details of the King’s remarks have been shared with the newspaper only now.

Analysts say that the Syrian refugee crisis is a source of tension between Jordan and Turkey, which are nominal allies. Jordan is angry that the EU has made a generous offer of cash, diplomatic ties, and one-for-one refugee formula to Turkey if the latter stemmed the flow of refugees into the EU zone.

Jordan’s population is only 10 percent of Turkey’s population, so, proportionally, Jordan hosts many more Syrian refugees, but it has not benefitted from outside support to the degree Turkey has.

The king, whose audience on the Hill included Senators John McCain and Paul Ryan, also told lawmakers that Jordanian special forces with “some balls” were involved in covert operations in Syria.

Military analysts note that as the involvement of Jordanian forces in Syria increases, so is the likelihood of friction with two other countries involved in Syria: Turkey and Russia, both of which use their military involvement in Syria not to fight ISIS, but to weaken anti-ISIS forces supported by the United States and Jordan. Turkey is using its airstrikes to target Kurdish forces who have proven themselves effective in fighting ISIS, while Russia used its heavy military strikes against anti-Assad Syrian rebels and the Sunni civilian communities supporting them.