Turkish president wants Donald Trump's support in driving ISIS out of Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his intentions to ask Donald Trump for support in driving out the Islamic State from Syria after the president-elect's inauguration on Jan. 20.

Turkish troops are currently fighting against ISIS in the terror group's stronghold in al-Bab in northwest Syria. The president suggested that the troops could move first to the town of Manbij before they head toward Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS.

Erdogan has expressed his country's readiness to fight against the jihadists in Raqqa if Trump is willing to block Kurdish troops from participating in the operation. Kurds have taken control over much of Syria's north in the past five years, and Turkey is concerned that Kurdish separatists might call for an establishment of a new state.

"We will not allow the formation of a new state in northern Syria," said Erdogan, according to Bloomberg. "After Manbij, Raqqa is next if we can join hands with the U.S.," he went on to say.

Kurdish forces recently recaptured Manbij from ISIS. Turkey considers Kurds as terrorists due to their links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The government claimed that the PKK's fight for autonomy has killed nearly 40,000 people, cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and has prevented Turkey from joining the EU.

"We will declare a safe zone cleared from terrorism in northern Syria," said the Turkish president.

Erdogan also revealed his plans to discuss the establishment of a no-fly zone over northern Syria with the Trump administration. Turkey has previously called for a no-fly zone in the same area, but the proposal did not get the backing of the Obama administration.

Turkey has deployed ground and air forces to Syria beginning in late August as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, which is aimed at retaking areas held by ISIS and securing the southern borders of Syria.

Turkish forces have clashed with Kurdish YPG militia forces on multiple occasions, and many analysts have claimed that the true goal of Euphrates Shield is to suppress Kurdish enclaves in Syria.

Erdogan stated in late November that one of the goals of the operation is to "end the rule of the tyrant al-Assad," referring to the Syrian president. He backtracked on the statement after Moscow asked him for clarification.