US sanctions Turkey over purchase of Russian defence system

Just ahead of the US announcement, Erdogan says the sanctions rhetoric was upsetting

WASHINGTON:

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defence system and targeted the top Turkish defense development body, its president and three employees.

The move, while focused on the defense sector, including Turkey’s Defence Industries Directorate (SSB), has drawn a condemnation from NATO-ally Ankara and is likely to further strain Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s relations with Western allies.

The sanctions, first reported by Reuters last week, include a ban on all US export licences as well as asset freezes and visa restrictions for SSB’s president, Ismail Demir, and three other employees.

They threaten to damage Turkey’s economy at a time when it is struggling with a coronavirus-induced slowdown and double-digit inflation.

Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 ground-to-air defence system in mid-2019 and says they pose no threat to NATO allies. Washington disagrees and has long threatened sanctions, and last year removed Turkey from an F-35 jet program.

The US measures announced on Monday under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) would be enacted by US President Donald Trump as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office on January 20.

Just ahead of the US announcement, Erdogan said the sanctions rhetoric was upsetting. “From our NATO ally the United States, we expect support in our battle against terrorist organisations and forces that have plans for our region, not sanctions,” he said after a cabinet meeting.

‘Grave mistake’

Turkey condemned as a “grave mistake” US sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence system, and said it will retaliate as necessary after it repeatedly called on Washington to solve the issue through dialogue.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said sanctions were “inexplicable” after Washington repeatedly rejected Ankara’s offer to form a joint working group. It called on its NATO ally to revise the “unjust” decision that will harm bilateral ties.

Russian Foreign Minster Sergei Lavrov said the sanctions which the United States has imposed against Turkey over the missile system buy from Russia were illegitimate and showed arrogance toward international law, Interfax news agency reported.