US adds Turkey to list of countries involved in use of child soldiers
For the first time, the US has included a NATO country on the list of countries linked to child recruitment. Washington considers Turkey to be involved in the use of child soldiers because of its support for the Turkmen Sultan Murad brigade in Syria, which would have minors in its ranks.
"As a respected regional leader and NATO member, Turkey has an opportunity to address this issue: the recruitment and use of child soldiers in Syria and Libya," a senior State Department official told reporters. In addition, the US trafficking report has urged Turkey to cease "operational, in-kind, and financial support to armed opposition groups in Syria that recruit child soldiers".
The countries listed in the US report, which include Yemen, Iran and Iraq, are subject to restrictions on commercial licensing in the military sector. However, State Department spokesman Ned Price did not specify whether Turkey would face any punishment.
International organisations such as the United Nations have also pointed to Turkey's links with some Syrian militias accused of targeting civilians and carrying out kidnappings. The UN has urged Ankara to rein in these groups. However, Turkey continues its military campaign against Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
International media such as Al-Monitor have also reported on the use of Syrian minors in the Libyan war. These young men were allegedly transferred to the North African country by Turkey, while fighting for Khalifa Haftar, who is also supported by Egypt. As Al-Monitor points out, these minors receive a salary and military training in camps.
"If Turkey and the Government of National Accord, which is recognised by the UN as the legitimate representative of Libya, are facilitating the deployment of children under the age of 18 to fight in Libya, they are committing a serious human rights violation," warned Mehmet Balci, founder of the NGO Fight for Humanity.
The report comes at a particularly sensitive time as the US and Turkey try to resolve previous tensions in order to build strong ties. During the last NATO summit, Presidents Joe Biden and Recep Tayyip Erdogan had "a good bilateral meeting", in the words of the US president. "We had detailed discussions about how to proceed on a number of issues. Our countries have broad agendas, and our teams will continue these discussions," Biden added.
Erdogan, meanwhile, reiterated his counterpart's remarks, noting the "constructive approach" with which they addressed "common interests" and the issues on which they disagree.
Afghanistan is one of the areas where the two countries can cooperate after September, when all NATO troops have withdrawn from the country. Turkey has offered to manage Kabul's international airport, while the US has already announced that it will continue to cooperate with the Afghan government. For this reason, Washington has preferred not to take a harsh tone with Ankara over the human trafficking report.
"With regard to human trafficking, I would not want to link today's report to the constructive discussions we are having with Turkey in the context of Afghanistan or any other area of common interest," Ned Price stressed. The State Department spokesman also referred to Turkey as "a very constructive and helpful partner".
The report also accuses Syria of continuing to "arrest, detain, and severely abuse victims of trafficking, including child soldiers". The document has placed the Middle Eastern country in "Tier 3", the category in which governments do the least to combat human trafficking. The State Department warns in particular about the situation in the Syrian camp of Al-Hol, which houses family members of Daesh militiamen. According to the report, these vulnerable people may be trafficked.
The same is true for Kurdish militias, according to Washington. The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) "continue to recruit and use children as young as 12", as the State Department reports.