Defense Secretary Mark Esper Mark EsperOvernight Defense: Stopgap spending measure awaits Senate vote | Trump nominates former Nunes aide for intelligence community watchdog | Trump extends ban on racial discrimination training to contractors, military Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Official: Pentagon has started 'prudent planning' for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May MORE defended President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria during an interview with Fox News's Chris Wallace Christopher (Chris) WallaceHouse to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Gayle King calls out Pelosi for calling Trump supporters 'henchmen': 'Egregious language' GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power MORE, insisting that Turkey was ready to invade the country to attack Kurdish forces regardless of U.S. actions.

In the face of questioning from Wallace, who suggested Turkey might not have gone through with the offensive if Trump had not removed U.S. troops, Esper said the U.S. could not have prevented it.

“I think they were fully committed,” Esper said of Turkey. “We are not going to go to war, another war in the Middle East, against Turkey. ... That’s not what we signed up for.”

Wallace asked whether the troops could have served as a tripwire and suggested that Turkey would not have started the incursion if Trump had not announced the move to remove them.

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Esper said U.S. troops should not be likened to a tripwire.

“I’m not one to ... classify them as a tripwire and sacrifice them, if you will,” he said.

“Well, you only sacrifice them if Turkey goes ahead. ... Maybe we would've stopped them,” Wallace countered.

Esper responded that Turkey was determined to press into Syria no matter what.

On FOX News Sunday: Mark Esper reacts to breaking news in Syria in the wake of President Trump pulling back troops. Esper says, "we should not put U.S. forces in between a Turkish advance." #FNS #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/2y7gtmWO61 — FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) October 13, 2019

Turkey launched its offensive just days after Trump announced U.S. troops would be leaving. When he made the announcement, he said it was because Turkey intended to launch an incursion into the area.

In the face of condemnations of the decision by GOP lawmakers, Trump has said it is not right for the U.S. to take part in endless wars in the Middle East.

Esper acknowledged bad behavior by Turkey.

“I think Turkey, the arch of their behavior over the past several years has been terrible. ... We see them doing all these things that, frankly, concern us,” he said of the NATO ally.

Asked how he would respond to contentions by Kurdish leaders that the U.S. exit from northern Syria is “leaving us to be slaughtered,” Esper responded, “I would say what we’ve been saying. ... We are doing everything we can to get the Turks to stop this egregious behavior.”

“As I said to them, they should not mistake our restraint for weakness. If they do and do something that would strike our interests of our allies, we will respond,” he added.