Emmanuel Macron says "we must trust an ally", referring to the US withdrawal from Syria | World

"I deeply regret the decision made by the United States," said Macron. "You have to trust an ally, coordinate your actions with your other allies."

The French president also congratulated Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who resigned this week after telling Trump that he could not comply with his decision regarding Syria.

"I want to pay tribute to General Mattis and the words that accompanied his decision.A year ago, we realized that he was a reliable interlocutor," said Macron at the time of writing. a press conference with his colleague Idriss Deby.

"Being an ally, is fighting side by side," he said, adding that it was precisely what France was doing with Chad in the fight against jihadist groups to the border.

France, the United Kingdom and Germany, allies of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group and usual targets of their attacks, did not hide their concern after the 39, announcement of the withdrawal of the United States.

The United States announced Wednesday (19) the total withdrawal of US forces in Syria. This decision is linked, according to the White House, to the reconquest of territories formerly occupied by the terrorist group "Islamic State".

This decision provoked criticism from the allies of President Donald Trump, who recorded a video to justify the withdrawal of US troops from Syria: "We defeated ISIS and regained territory. time for the troops to come back. "

Trump also said that the United States did not want to be the" Middle East police ", defending its controversial decision.

"Why would the United States want to be the police in the Middle East, getting NOTHING and losing precious lives and billions of dollars protecting people who, in almost every case, do not like it? what are we doing? "It's time for others to finally fight …", he tweeted.

Senator Lindsey Graham, who is part of Trump's party, said that it would be Responsible if the Islamic State was taking up more and more space in Syria.The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, worried about the influence that Turkey could have had on the decision.

This week, Turkish President Recep Erdogan confirmed the purchase of $ 3.5 billion of missile systems.

The US exit from Syria interests Erdogan as the main American allies in the military operation are the Kurdish revolutionary forces, a group that the Turkish government qualifies as a terrorist and who, without the presence of the US military, will be vulnerable. Kurds detain thousands of militants from the Islamic State.

France has announced that it will maintain its troops in northern Syria for the moment, as Islamic State militants have not been eliminated and have begun talks with Washington. on the conditions and the moment of its withdrawal, announced officials.