Immediate sanctions against Turkey for acquiring the S-400

The 2021 Defense Budget Bill (NDAA) provides for sanctions against Turkey for acquiring the Russian S-400 system. The bill establishes that the acquisition of the S-400 is a “significant transaction” (verbal CAATSA). Therefore, it calls for the provisions of CAATSA (the Law for Dealing with America’s Opponents through Sanctions) to be applied and for at least five sanctions to be imposed within 30 days of signing.

“The acquisition by the Turkish government of the S-400 air defense system by the Russian Federation as of July 12, 2019, is a ‘significant transaction’ as described in section 231 of the CAATSA law. .. No later than 30 days after the date of its adoption of this law (defense budget for 2021), the president must impose five or more of the sanctions described in article 235 of the CAATSA Law in relation to any person who knowingly participated in the acquisition of the S-400 air defense system “, normally mentioned.

The bill establishes that after one year the president can cancel the sanctions as long as he certifies to the pertinent Congressional committees that:

• The Turkish government and anyone acting on its behalf no longer owns the S-400 air defense system or a system that has succeeded it.

• No official of the Russian Federation or persons acting on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation or the defense sector of the Russian Federation shall operate or maintain any S-400 air defense system or successor system within Turkey.

• The President has received credible guarantees from the Government of Turkey that he will not participate or allow any foreigner to participate in any activity to recover the S-400 air defense system subject to sanctions in accordance with article 231 of the CAATSA Law.

For his part, Senator Robert Menendez expressed his satisfaction, saying: “I am incredibly proud to have helped secure a readiness for the NDAA to accomplish what President Trump has refused to do.” “Turkey has received Russian S-400 defense systems and will therefore be punished under current law.”

Source: AMPE