Motion · S5M-19298 · 7 Oct 2019

United States Abandons Kurdish Allies

Lodged by Ross Greer (Scottish Green Party) Standard Motion 7 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament condemns the reported decision of the United States to withdraw military support from its Kurdish allies in Northern Syria; understands that the United States had, in recent days, compelled the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to demolish defensive fortifications along the Turkish border, as part of its security mechanism framework, on the understanding that no troop withdrawal was imminent; considers that the decision to have the fortifications dismantled only then for the United States to withdraw military forces from the area after reaching an agreement with Turkey is a gross act of betrayal to the Kurdish-led forces that lost over 11,000 men and women at the forefront of the fight against the ISIS "caliphate" and leaves the one region of Syria that is under stable, democratic control at imminent risk of invasion, destruction and ethnic cleansing at the hands of Turkish forces; recalls that Turkey launched an offensive into the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in North Western Syria in early 2018, which, it understands, led to extensive destruction, thousands of deaths and the ethnic cleansing and deliberate displacement of much of the existing population; considers that the United States' decision will destabilise the region and risk a resurgence of ISIS, and calls on the United States, and other coalition governments, to reaffirm their support for the SDF and take measures to prevent Turkey from launching what it sees as its long-threatened invasion of Northern Syria.

Supporters (7)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.