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Due to the use of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, the United States is imposing sanctions on its NATO ally, Turkey. This was announced by the US Secretary of State Pompeo.
Due to the use of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, the United States is imposing sanctions on its NATO ally, Turkey. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in Washington on Monday that punitive measures would be imposed on the Defense Industry Directorate (SSB). The leadership is subordinate to the office of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The sanctions included a ban on all US export licenses and permits for SSBs, Pompeo said.
All assets of SSB chief Ismail Demir and other executives in the US would be frozen and would also be subject to entry restrictions. Pompeo also stressed that Turkey was a “valuable ally” of the United States and an important security partner in the region and that they wanted continued cooperation in the defense sector.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had confirmed tests of the system by the Turkish army in October. With a view to criticizing Washington, Erdogan stressed that the United States would not be asked for permission. The United States government had repeatedly warned the Ankara government against the use of the Russian S-400 missile defense system and had threatened punitive measures. The Pentagon had criticized that the use of the system was inconsistent with Turkey’s obligations as a NATO partner. NATO had also warned that the S-400 system could not be integrated into the alliance’s air defense and anti-missile system.
Caatsa law
The basis of the US sanctions is the Caatsa Act (“Countering US Adversaries Through Sanctions”) of 2017. According to it, the US President can impose punitive measures against a third party in a “significant transaction” with the government’s defense sector. Russian. Among other things, the president can order that those affected be denied U.S. export permits, that U.S. financial institutions not be allowed to grant them loans, that their U.S. possessions be frozen, or that they be barred from entering U.S.
The United States feared that Russia could use the sensitive radar of the S-400 weapons system to obtain data on the stealth capabilities of the F-35 aircraft. Ankara was a partner in the construction of the F-35 fighter jet and wanted to buy many of the planes. Due to the arms deal with Moscow, the United States has already excluded Turkey from the F-35 program. A few days ago, Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and James Lankford wrote in a guest article for the “Wall Street Journal” that the use of Russian “advisers” and S-400 radar near F-35 fighter jets was unacceptable.
Ankara and Moscow signed the contract for Turkey to purchase the S-400 system in September 2017. The first delivery took place last year. Erdogan argues that Turkey needs its own missile defense against threats from neighboring Syria, a country in civil war, but also from Germany. According to Ankara, Turkey has not received any reasonable alternative offers from its allies.
The S-400 is a mobile air defense system that can take aircraft, projectiles, and other objects out of the sky. The units, which usually consist of several missiles, a radar and a command post, can be transported by truck. The S-400 can work with short, medium and long-range missiles.
Turkey condemns sanctions: “unfair”
Turkey has strongly condemned the US sanctions. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the country will take necessary measures against this “unfair” decision in a manner and at the right time.
It was a procedure “for no reason” that the United States refused to resolve the problem with diplomacy and instead impose sanctions, he said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had previously announced punitive measures against the Defense Industry Directorate (SSB).
Athens welcomes US sanctions
Greece is in favor of the US sanctions against Turkey. Greece is observing the US decision “with satisfaction,” a statement from the Athens Foreign Ministry said late Monday.
Greece and Turkey have been fighting for months over the scope of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the eastern Mediterranean, sovereign rights in the Aegean Sea and the Cyprus issue. The Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo, had previously announced punitive measures against the Directorate of the Defense Industry (SSB).
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