Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security of the Syrian–Turkish border; whether they have played a practical role in securing the border between Turkey and Syria; and what assessment they have made of the present policy of the United States towards the Syrian-Turkish border, following the statement on 17 January by the Pentagon on the training of local security forces in Syria.

We are closely following developments on the ground in Syria, including the Turkish operation in Afrin for which it cites security concerns as the basis. The UK has not played a practical role in securing the border between Turkey and Syria. The United States continues to train local security forces, particularly in areas liberated from Daesh but – as Secretary Tillerson said on 17 January – there are no plans for a new 'border force' (as some media had suggested). Ultimately, there will need to be effective security forces in Syria that can protect local populations, augment security in liberated areas and prevent Daesh's re-emergence. That is why it is crucial that there is a national political settlement that provides for this.