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The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of European Union (EU) countries will meet today (October 14) and discuss possible sanctions against Turkey.
Ahead of a European Council meeting scheduled for October 17-18, EU ministers will discuss both Turkey's Operation Peace Spring into northern Syria and its drilling activities in Mediterranean.
After a press conference to be held today, EU leaders will have the final word after meeting in Brussels on October 17-18.
Ahead of this meeting, we have compiled which countries have stopped or suspended arms export to Turkey and which country wants an embargo.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of UK Dominic Raab has announced that he condemns the operation launched by Turkey into northern Syria and defined the operation as "an attack against the independence of Syria".
"The UK government takes its arm export control responsibilities very seriously and in this case, of course, we will keep our defense exports to Turkey under very careful and continual review", Raab has indicated and added,
"No further export licences to Turkey for items that might be used in military operations in Syria will be granted while we conduct that review."
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Luigi Di Maio has also confirmed that his country will impose an arms embargo on Turkey. Speaking at the Parliament, he has indicated that "a diplomatic solution should be found for the Syria crisis, rather than a military solution".
On October 9, when Turkey started its operation into northern Syria, Finland Prime Minister Antti Rinne condemned the offensive and announced that they have stopped the arms sale to Turkey.
Czechia Minister of Interior Jan Hamace has made a statement on Twitter and announced that the country has "suspended military equipment export licenses to Turkey".
Making a statement on the fourth day of the operation, both Germany and France announced that they have suspended arms sale to Turkey.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Maas said, "Due to Turkish army's operation into north-east Syria, the Federal Government will not allow the sale of any military supplies that could be used by Turkey in Syria."
According to the figures for 2018, Germany exported 243 million Euro worth of arms to Turkey throughout 2018.
Sharing a brief message on Twitter, President of France Emmanuel Macron also stated, "I most firmly condemn the unilateral military offensive that is underway in Syria. I call on Turkey to put an end to it as quickly as possible. Turkey's action poses a humanitarian risk to millions of people."
I most firmly condemn the unilateral military offensive that is underway in Syria. I call on Turkey to put an end to it as quickly as possible. Turkey’s action poses a humanitarian risk to millions of people.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 10, 2019
Making a statement on October 10, Foreign Minister of Norway Ine Eriksen Søreide said,
"As the situation is unclear and changing rapidly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – as a precautionary measure – will not process new applications for export licenses for military and multi-use military products to Turkey for the time being"
"We are now also reviewing all valid licenses for military and multi-use military export licenses in Turkey", the Minister added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands also called on Turkey to stop the operation and announced that they have suspended arms export to the country.
Ann Linde, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, said on October 11, "I will propose to parliament that Sweden at the EU meeting of Foreign Ministers should push for a weapons embargo against Turkey".
(PT/SD)