Turkey: Commotion in Ankara over US sanctions on S-400s

US sanctions against Turkey for the purchase of advanced Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems are causing the geopolitical chessboard in the eastern Mediterranean to crack. This event, which sparked the sharpest reaction in Ankara and the fires in Moscow, demonstrates the determination of the United States to return more actively to an area that has traditionally extended to its “sphere of influence”, but also to send a first message. to Erdogan about the inconvenience. It provokes its coexistence with Russia and its uncontrollable neo-Ottoman politics on multiple fronts.

Satisfaction in Athens

The United States has imposed sanctions on the president of the Turkish Ministry of Defense (SSB) (smail Demir and three other Turkish workers, according to a statement posted on the official website of the US Department of the Treasury). This decision was accepted by Greece with relief after Athens’ expectations were cut at the EU Summit.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “Greece, a member of NATO, welcomes today’s announcement by the US Treasury Department on the imposition of sanctions” on Turkey. “Greece, a NATO member, today welcomes the announcement of the United States Department of the Treasury on the imposition of sanctions against the Directorate of Defense Industry of the Republic of Turkey, its president and other executives, in accordance with Section 231 of the Counteracting American adversaries through the sanctions law (CAATSA) ».

Punitive measures

The sanctions are part of Washington’s punitive measures against Turkey’s acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems. Washington’s long-awaited move has enraged Ankara and could damage the Turkish economy, which is already plagued by the coronavirus pandemic.

Immediately after the announcement of the sanctions, US Secretary of State Pompeo called on Turkey to immediately resolve the issue with the S-400s in coordination with the US.

Pompeo

Pompeo confirmed that the US sanctions include an asset freeze and travel visa restrictions for the chairman of Turkey’s SSB Defense Industry Directorate, Ismail Demir, and three other Turkish employees.

In a Twitter post, Pompeo said: “Despite our warnings, Turkey has proceeded to purchase and test Russia’s S-400 system. Today’s sanctions against Turkey’s SSB show that the US will fully implement #CAATSA. “We will not tolerate significant trade agreements with Russia in the defense sector.”

Turkey threatened retaliation

Without a doubt, the US move is significant, coming only 24 hours after the unequivocal decision of the European Council summit to postpone virtually any decision to take restrictive measures against Ankara to 2021, with a view to the next Summit. of March. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry asked Washington to reconsider the decision and back down from making a mistake. He even warned of retaliation, as well as when he deems it intentional.

The sanctions were effectively announced last Friday through leaks to Reuters and Bloomberg.

Upset in Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has responded harshly to US sanctions against Turkey over the S-400. Asked about the sanctions, Lavrov said the US decision shows a lack of respect for international law, according to Interfax.

“Of course, it is another manifestation of the arrogant attitude towards international law and the use of illegal unilateral violent measures that the United States has used on the left and right for many years, even decades.” And, of course, it does not improve the international position from the United States, I think, “Lavrov said.

“The issue of US sanctions on the S-400 market has not come to light now,” he said, adding that “the United States has been talking about this for over a year, so it’s not surprising.” .

What sanctions provide

In accordance with the provisions of Section 231 of the CAATSA, complete sanctions and restrictions are imposed on the issuance of visas to Ismail Demir, head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), who is responsible for the entire defense program of Turkey and reports directly to Mr. Erdogan, as well as his Vice President Faruk Gigit, Serhat Cenkoglu, Head of the Department of Air Defense and Space, as well as Mustafa Alper Deniz, Head of Programs of the Regional Directorate of Air Defense Systems.

As required by the pertinent Section 231 of CAATSA, at least five of the 12 measures it establishes must be enforced. In this context, and given that the Russian company ROE is included in the List of Designated Persons on whom the relevant measures can be imposed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Minister of Finance, decided on the following sanctions:

First, the prohibition on granting specific export licenses and approvals for any product and technology that can be transferred to the SSB.

Second, the prohibition of loans and credits by US financial institutions to the SSB, which amounts to up to $ 10 million a year,

Third, the US Export and Import Assistance Bank’s ban on exports to SSB,

Fourth, the requirement that the United States oppose loans that would benefit SSB from international financial institutions and,

Fifth, the imposition of full sanctions for obstruction and restrictions on the issuance of visas to the aforementioned persons.

In addition, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets (OFAC) has added the SSB to its list, as well as the aforementioned officials on the list of persons subject to freezing of any assets under the jurisdiction of the US prohibiting transactions with such persons.

The measures described below will not leave Turkey “handicapped” financially. It is not ruled out that they are part of a successful tactic by President Trump to advance the possible imposition of tougher sanctions by the next Biden administration and to “fall into the trap” of his good friend Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Trump’s veto

An amendment to the defense budget was added that effectively removed the president of the United States from taking the lead in the case of sanctions, forcing him to enforce them within 30 days. Trump has announced a veto on the defense budget, but not on sanctions against Turkey. And he actually did something that he could and should have done a long time ago.

Turkey launched a counterattack shortly after the announcement of US sanctions against the S-400. A statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the decision and said it would retaliate.

“The refusal of the United States to accept our proposal to resolve the issue through dialogue and diplomacy in a manner worthy of two allies and to resort to unilateral action is an act that lacks logic,” the statement said.

“Turkey will take all necessary measures against this decision,” the statement added, emphasizing that the measure would inevitably have negative consequences for relations between the two countries.

Turkey emphasizes that it will respond accordingly, as and when it deems appropriate. “Turkey will not hesitate to take the necessary measures at this time,” the statement concluded.

The Turkish Foreign Minister’s announcement in detail:

We condemn and reject the unilateral sanctions of the United States on the supply of the S-400 system. The circumstances that led Turkey to purchase these systems are well known.

Indeed, President Trump himself has admitted, on many occasions, that Turkey was right on this issue. On the other hand, US claims that this system would create a problem in the NATO system lack a technological basis.

Turkey has repeatedly proposed the creation of a technical group, in which NATO will also participate, to address the issue without political prejudice and objectively. Therefore, and in this context, the fact that the United States is currently choosing to impose unilateral sanctions, not accepting our proposal to resolve the issue through dialogue and diplomacy, as befits two allies, is completely unacceptable.

Turkey will react when it considers that the time is right to take the necessary measures. From now on, relations between the two countries inevitably deteriorate. There will be a response when deemed necessary. We urge the United States to reconsider its huge mistake and reverse the decision on sanctions.

“We will not change our attitude”

His own response was given a short time later by the president of the Turkish Presidency of the Republic (SSB) Defense Industry Directorate, Ismail Demir, the main person to whom the sanctions were directed.

“The US decisions are not going to change Turkey’s position. We will continue our course in the defense industry, under the leadership of our leader Tayyip Erdogan, in the same way that we have done so far,” he wrote on Twitter.

And a new attack on Greece

Turkey launched a new unprovoked attack on Greece, which more or less accused Athens of acting “against good neighborly relations”.

A few hours after the new provocative Navtex, which basically calls for the demilitarization of six Aegean islands, the country’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stressed that Greece “is taking advantage of the problem with Navtex.”

“What they are doing is nothing but harassment and it goes against good neighborly relations. Instead of talking to Turkey, they have hopes of the EU and expectations of others. They have to see that this path that they are following is a dead end. departure “.

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