US Drafts Sanctions Bill Against Turkey

* Photo: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has announced that they drafted a bipartisan sanctions bill against Turkey over its "Operation Peace Spring" launched into northern Syria yesterday (October 9).

Sharing a message on his Twitter account, Senator Graham has indicated that they have reached an agreement with Democrat Senator Chris van Hollen on sanctions against Turkey.

"I am pleased to have reached a bipartisan agreement with Senator Chris van Hollen on severe sanctions against Turkey for their invasion of Syria", Graham has tweeted and added, "While the Administration refuses to act against Turkey, I expect strong bipartisan support."

"Most Members of Congress believe it would be wrong to abandon the Kurds who have been strong allies against ISIS", he has indicated further.

I am pleased to have reached a bipartisan agreement with Senator @ChrisVanHollen on severe sanctions against Turkey for their invasion of Syria.

While the Administration refuses to act against Turkey, I expect strong bipartisan support. pic.twitter.com/Ph5fIVt7k3

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 9, 2019

The draft will be approved by the Congress in the upcoming days.

What does Turkey Sanctions Bill foresee?

Under the title of "List of Sanctions", a series of sanctions planned to be imposed on Turkey have been listed.

Sanction against President Erdoğan

The sanctions bill foresees sanctions on the US assets of following politicians in Turkey, including President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:

• Vice President Fuat Oktay
• Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
• Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak
• Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan
• Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez

Military sanctions

Under the title "Sanctions against military transactions with Turkey", the bill has indicated that the sanctions will also be imposed "against any person who sells or provides financial, material, or technological support or knowingly does a transaction with the Turkish military including aircraft of aircraft parts, machinery, used by the Turkish Air Force; automotive equipment and services utilized by the Turkish Land and Naval Forces; weapons or defense articles utilized by the Turkish Military."

Sanctions against the energy sector

According to the draft bill, the country will also sanction "any foreign person or entity who supplies goods, services, technology, information, or other support that maintains or supports Turkey's domestic petroleum production and natural gas production for use by its armed forces."

Prohibition on US military assistance

The Section four of the draft sanctions bill has also foreseen "the prohibition of the sale of US defense articles, services, technology, materials to the Turkish Armed Forces and the prohibition of ammunition sales and transfers to the Turkish Armed Forces."

The draft bill has also foreseen implementation of sanctions from CAATSA over Turkey's purchase of S-400 defense missile system from Russia.

The sanctions currently imposed against Iran, Russia and North Korea are also implemented based on CAATSA.

Exemptions from sanctions

According to the bill, humanitarian aid, medical assistance, democracy promotion / election assistance and intelligence sharing will be exempted from the sanctions. (TP/SD)