The issue of US sanctions for the purchase of Russian weapons is of particular interest to New Delhi, which is also in the process of purchasing the S-400 from Moscow.
The United States has imposed sanctions on NATO ally Turkey for the purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Monday. The issue of sanctions under Section 231 of the Fighting American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for the purchase of Russian weapons is of particular interest to New Delhi, which is also in the process of purchasing the S-400. from Moscow.
“Today’s action sends a clear signal that the United States will fully implement Section 231 of CAATSA and will not tolerate significant transactions with Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors,” Pompeo said Monday.
Sanctions were imposed on Turkey’s main defense procurement agency, the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) for “knowingly participating in a significant transaction with Rosoboronexport (ROE), Russia’s main arms exporting entity,” said the US State Department spokesman office in a statement.
These SSB sanctions include a prohibition on granting specific US export licenses and authorizations for any product or technology, a prohibition on loans or credits by US financial institutions, totaling more than $ 10 million in any 12-month period, a US export and import ban, Export banking assistance, and mandate US opposition to loans from international financial organizations to SSB.
Additionally, the sanctions will include full lockdown sanctions and visa restrictions for SSB President Ismail Demir and other officials.
“We are very sorry that this was necessary and we hope that Turkey will work with us to resolve the S-400 issue as quickly as possible,” said Christopher Ford of the State Department, which is in charge of security and non-proliferation.
“The United States made it clear to Turkey at the highest level and on numerous occasions that its purchase of the S-400 system would endanger the safety of US military personnel and technology and provide substantial funding to Russia’s defense sector, as well as Russian access to the Turkish armed forces and the defense industry, ”said Pompeo.
“However, Turkey decided to go ahead with the acquisition and testing of the S-400, despite the availability of alternative systems interoperable with NATO to meet its defense requirements. This decision resulted in the suspension of Turkey and the pending elimination of the global F-35 Joint Strike Fighter partnership, ”he said.
Last year, the US removed Turkey from its F-35 aircraft program over concerns that Russia could access confidential information if Turkey used Russian systems in conjunction with US aircraft. US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have an apparently close relationship and Trump has rejected Congressional demands for sanctions against Turkey. The administration has now had to face a $ 740 million National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2021 from the US Congress, imposing sanctions against Turkey within 30 days of the bill’s approval. of law (December 11). Trump has threatened to veto the bill.
“The biggest winner of our new defense bill is China! I will veto!” Trump tweeted days ago.
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