France and Germany have announced that arms exports to Turkey will be suspended, which launched a military offensive in northeastern Syria against Syrian Kurdish fighters.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Saturday weekly Bild am Sonntag that, "in the context of the Turkish military offensive in northeastern Syria, the government will not issue any new weapons permit that Turkey can use in Syria."
Maas' comments came when thousands of Kurdish immigrants demonstrated against the Turkish military offensive in cities across Germany.
Germany is home to one of the largest Kurdish communities in Europe.
France is also stopping exports of any weapon to Turkey that can be used in its offensive against Kurds in Syria, and wants an immediate meeting of the US-led coalition against extremists that are part of the Islamic State (EI) militant group .
The French Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs made the announcement in a statement on Saturday reiterating opposition to the Turkish military operation, which faces a growing international condemnation.
The statement says France will push a "European approach" towards the sale of suspended weapons at a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on Monday.
The French government maintains that the offensive is causing growing humanitarian problems and threatens the international fight against the Islamic State, "and therefore threatens European security." Extremists linked to IS have carried out deadly attacks in European countries.
France wants an anti-IS coalition meeting to discuss its next steps in the context of Turkish actions.
Austria, Switzerland and Greece also saw Kurdish demonstrations against Turkey's offensive in Syria.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1510623/france-germany-to-halt-arms-exports-to-turkey-over-military-offensive-in-syria