[ad_1]
The administration of President Donald Trump, which has been working for just over a month, made the rare decision to impose sanctions on a NATO ally. The sanctions have been targeted at the Turkish military procurement agency.
The United States has prohibited the issuance of export licenses and US loans to the agency, stating that its leader, Ismail Demir, will not be able to enter the country or own property there.
Congress has demanded criminal action over the acquisition of important weapons from Russia under the Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA), but Trump has previously favored Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and avoided anger at Ankara.
RTErdogan had previously warned that US sanctions on Russian weapons would be “disrespectful” to Turkey.
“Today’s decision sends a clear signal that the United States will fully implement Chapter 231 of CAATSA and will not tolerate significant transactions with Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a release.
The United States was deeply angered by Ankara’s decision to acquire the Russian S-400 missile defense systems. Washington says the S-400 could pose a threat to radar-impaired aircraft and that these missiles are incompatible with NATO systems.
Turkey has currently acquired four such antiaircraft defense complexes from Russia; its value is 2,500 million. USD (22.7 billion euros).
“The United States has made it clear to Turkey at the highest level and on several occasions that its decision to acquire the S-400 will jeopardize the security of US military technology and troops and provide the Russian defense sector with substantial funding,” as well as access to the Turkish armed forces and the defense industry. ” He said.
“However, Turkey has decided to acquire and test the S-400, although it has been able to acquire systems compatible with the NATO air defense network to meet its defense needs,” said the secretary of state.
In response to this move by Turkey, the United States has previously removed Ankara from its modern F-35 combat program.
[ad_2]
