US Senate Passes Defense Bill Including Sanctions Against Turkey

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Approved by the US House of Representatives last week, the 2020 defense spending bill has been overwhelmingly passed by the Senate. In a statement last week, US President Donald Trump announced that if the Senate passed the defense bill, he would immediately approve it.

Foreseeing sanctions against Turkey over its purchase of S-400s from Russia, the approval of the bill has been denounced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement.

Sanctions against Turkey

The defense spending bill recently passed by the US Senate bans the delivery of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey over the country's purchase of S-400 air missile defense system from Russia.

Defining Turkey's purchase of S-400s as a transaction with the defense sector of Russia on a significant level, the bill underlines that sanctions should be imposed on Turkey in accordance with the US law.

As reported by the New York Times, the bill also includes sanctions meant to block the construction of the Nord 2 pipeline that would create an underwater pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.

Foreseeing sanctions against the Turk Stream inaugurated by President of Russia Vladimir Putin in İstanbul on January 8, the bill also bans military cooperation with Russia and foresees sanctions against the ships and foreign nationals working in laying pipes for Nord Stream 2 and Turk Stream.

Trump can lift sanctions if he can convince Congress

Updated by the US Congress every year, a new version of National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) shapes the foreign and security policies of the US.

President Trump previously stated that if the $738 billion defense spending bill was passed by the Senate, he would sign it soon and put it into effect.

Trump is authorized to lift the sanctions that will be in effect for five years. Trump has to convince the Congress that Russia will not use the projects in question for its own benefit.

Ministry: Bill has hostile aspects against Turkey

Shortly after the Senate passed the defense bill by a vote of 86 to 8, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey has released a written statement on its official website and denounced the approval of the US Senate:

"Once again, the Draft National Defense Authorization Act for 2020 adopted in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate includes hostile aspects against Turkey. Members of Congress looking to settle internal political scores and acting under the influence of anti-Turkish circles, continue harming the vision to improve our relations with the U.S.

"This bill demonstrates that the Congress persists in disrespecting Turkey's sovereign decisions and in adopting an irrational hostile attitude by unfairly blocking our participation to the F-35 program despite Turkey having fulfilled all its obligations, renewing calls to implement sanctions in the context of our acquisition of S-400 systems and including references to the TurkStream.

'Necessary measures will be taken'

"Furthermore, attempts to lift the U.S. arms embargo on the Cyprus Island in favor of the Greek Cypriot Administration will have no outcome other than hampering efforts towards a settlement on the Island and creating a dangerous escalation.

"We remind once more that the language of threats and sanctions will never dissuade Turkey from resolutely taking steps to ensure its national security. No one should doubt that necessary measures will be taken against these initiatives targeting Turkey." (EKN/SD)