President Trump insisted withdrawal of troops from Syria has been “strategically brilliant” and minimized concerns for the Kurds, implying that they allied with the United States only out of their own self-interest, the New York Times reports.

Said Trump: “We paid a lot of money for them to fight with us.”

He dismissed concerns that his decision has opened the way for Russia, Iran and the Syrian government to move into the abandoned territory and reassert their influence in the area: “I wish them all a lot of luck. If Russia wants to get involved in Syria, that’s really up to them.”