[ad_1]
On Friday, the US Congress authorized sanctions against Turkey for the acquisition of the Russian “S-400” missile system, despite successive warnings from Washington to Ankara.
And the US sanctions allowed by Congress are expected to target the largest arms manufacturers and several Turkish businessmen.
Earlier on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attacked the United States, saying “the American approach to imposing sanctions on Turkey reflects a lack of respect for an ally in (NATO) NATO.
Observers believe the US move will enrage Ankara as it will seriously complicate its relations with the next US administration led by President-elect Joe Biden.
These US sanctions range from medium to severe and can be directed at individuals or entities.
European sanctions
European Union leaders had decided during their meeting in Brussels on Thursday to impose sanctions on Turkey’s “illegal and aggressive” actions in the eastern Mediterranean against Athens and Nicosia.
“The measures that have been approved will be individual sanctions, and additional measures can be taken if Turkey continues with its actions,” said a diplomat.
A list of names will be drawn up in the coming weeks and presented to member states for approval, in accordance with recommendations adopted by the 27-nation summit in Brussels.
European leaders authorized the EU Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, “to report to them by March 2021 on the evolution of the situation” and to propose, if necessary, an extension of the sanctions to include the names of new personalities or companies, said the European diplomat. “The idea is to gradually tighten the screws,” he added.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry responded in a statement, saying: “We reject this biased and illegal position that was included in the results of the European Union summit on December 10.”
‘Strict and firm’
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Friday that European leaders have shown firmness and steadfastness in their stance towards Turkey.
Macron said at the end of a European summit in Brussels that Europe is open to dialogue, but that it will not accept damage to the sovereignty of European countries or the stability of the region.
He added: “There is a new European approach to dealing with Turkey,” noting that European countries gave Turkey a chance last October, but continued their provocations, as he described it.
The French president indicated that Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, was in charge of evaluating the situation during the next period, “to take new steps towards Turkey if necessary.”
Macron concluded his speech by saying: “Next March, there will be an assessment of the European Union’s relationship with Turkey, politically, economically and commercially.”
[ad_2]
