Bolton Outlines Slowdown of Syria Withdrawal, But Trump Insists Plan Hasn’t Changed
- President says U.S. to withdraw at ‘at a proper pace’
- Bolton describes conditions that may mean indefinite U.S. stay
John Bolton
Photographer: Zach Gibson/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
President Donald Trump insisted that his plan to withdraw U.S. military forces from Syria hadn’t changed, after his national security adviser outlined conditions for a pullout that could result in Americans staying in the country indefinitely.
National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Sunday that American forces would remain in Syria until Islamic State is defeated. He added that the Trump administration would also demand assurances from Turkey that it won’t attack allied Kurdish groups the Turkish government views as terrorists. He gave no timeline for a complete withdrawal.