Erdogan says Turkey will take necessary steps against Trump's 'disrespectful' letter

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Donald Trump’s recent letter to him broke with “diplomatic and political courtesy.”

The letter “was not in line with diplomatic and political courtesy. We will not forget this lack of respect. This is not a priority for us. But when the time comes we would like it to be known that we will take the necessary steps.”

The extraordinary missive warned the Turkish leader not to be a “fool” over Turkish plans to start a military campaign in northern Syria.

We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.

“Don’t be a tough guy, don’t be a fool!”, the letter, leaked from the White House, said.

It emerged on Thursday that Mr Erdogan reacted angrily to the letter, throwing it in the bin and commencing the military offensive, which has left dozens of civilians dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Shape Created with Sketch. Turkey launches offensive into Syria Show all 25 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Turkey launches offensive into Syria 1/25 Turkish soldiers with armored vehicles EPA 2/25 A woman flees with her children during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty 3/25 AFP/Getty 4/25 The first group of Turkish infantry prepare to enter Syria on the border Getty 5/25 Civilians flee AFP/Getty 6/25 Smoke billows from targets inside Syria AP 7/25 Turkish armoured vehicles enter Syria in Akcakale Getty 8/25 Civilians leave as smoke rises from Ras al-Ain AFP 9/25 A multi-rocket launcher fires in an unknown location Turkish Defence Ministry via Reuters 10/25 People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border Getty 11/25 Girls stand together in Ras al Ain town Reuters 12/25 A woman walks as smoke billows following Turkish bombardment in Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty 13/25 A Turkish army's tank drives down from a truck towards the border with Syria AFP/Getty 14/25 Turkish jet taxis on tarmac after returning to a military base in southeast Diyarbakir Reuters 15/25 A Turkish armored vehicle drives down a road during a military operation in Kurdish areas of northern Syria EPA 16/25 People sit on belongings at a back of a truck as they flee Ras al Ain town Reuters 17/25 Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters enter Tel Abyad AFP/Getty 18/25 Civilians flee AFP/Getty 19/25 People flee Tal Abyad North Press Agency/Reuters TV 20/25 People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border into Syria Getty 21/25 Civilians flee with their belongings AFP/Getty 22/25 AFP/Getty 23/25 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, speaks with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, left, as they watch the operation by Turkish forces in Kurdish areas EPA 24/25 Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Tal Abyad AFP/Getty 25/25 Turkey-backed members of Syrian National Army prepare for moving to Turkey with heavy armed vehicles EPA 1/25 Turkish soldiers with armored vehicles EPA 2/25 A woman flees with her children during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty 3/25 AFP/Getty 4/25 The first group of Turkish infantry prepare to enter Syria on the border Getty 5/25 Civilians flee AFP/Getty 6/25 Smoke billows from targets inside Syria AP 7/25 Turkish armoured vehicles enter Syria in Akcakale Getty 8/25 Civilians leave as smoke rises from Ras al-Ain AFP 9/25 A multi-rocket launcher fires in an unknown location Turkish Defence Ministry via Reuters 10/25 People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border Getty 11/25 Girls stand together in Ras al Ain town Reuters 12/25 A woman walks as smoke billows following Turkish bombardment in Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty 13/25 A Turkish army's tank drives down from a truck towards the border with Syria AFP/Getty 14/25 Turkish jet taxis on tarmac after returning to a military base in southeast Diyarbakir Reuters 15/25 A Turkish armored vehicle drives down a road during a military operation in Kurdish areas of northern Syria EPA 16/25 People sit on belongings at a back of a truck as they flee Ras al Ain town Reuters 17/25 Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters enter Tel Abyad AFP/Getty 18/25 Civilians flee AFP/Getty 19/25 People flee Tal Abyad North Press Agency/Reuters TV 20/25 People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border into Syria Getty 21/25 Civilians flee with their belongings AFP/Getty 22/25 AFP/Getty 23/25 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, speaks with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, left, as they watch the operation by Turkish forces in Kurdish areas EPA 24/25 Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Tal Abyad AFP/Getty 25/25 Turkey-backed members of Syrian National Army prepare for moving to Turkey with heavy armed vehicles EPA

In the 9 October letter, Mr Trump also told him he could make a “great deal” with General Mazloum Kobani, leader of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the Kurdish-led militia that is allied with Washington in the fight against Isis.

He said he was offended by the suggestion that he would meet with Gen Mazloum Kobani. “You’re talking about a terror mastermind. This mastermind is talking to President Trump. This agreement is between Turkey and a state and not with a terrorist organisation.”

Turkey agreed on Thursday to a temporary ceasefire, but fighting has continued, according to Kurdish forces in northern Syria.

Speaking at a press conference in a chamber in the ornate Dolmabahce Palace complex along the Strait of Bosphorus in Istanbul, Mr Erdogan warned that the war could start again in earnest if the YPG does not vacate the 30 kilometre buffer zone along its border.

“If the US can keep its promise, the issue of safe zone will be resolved,” he said, referring to the YPG withdrawal. “If these promises are not kept at the end of 120 hour-period our operation is going to continue where it left off.”

US vice president Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Mr Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, after Mr Trump’s effective greenlighting of the offensive was met with widespread domestic and international condemnation.

The Turkish president called the meetings with US vice president Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “very productive,” adding that “the next 120 hours we want to implement” the scheme.

Mr Erdogan said that he is heading to the Russian resort city of Sochi on Tuesday to meet with President Vladimir Putin and get him on board with his plan to create a 440-kilometre by 30-kilometre safe zone.