US sanctions Turkey's arms purchasing agency over S-400s

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The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia.

The sanctions, which are part of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), target Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), its head İsmail Demir and three other officials, according to an announcement made by the department today (December 14).

US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the SSB knowingly engaged in a significant transaction with Rosoboronexport, Russia's main arms export entity, by procuring the S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

Both houses of the US Congress have approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which mandates the president to sanction Turkey as per CAATSA.

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Ankara signed an agreement with Russia to buy the missile system in April 2017 and received the first batch of missiles last July.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed in late October that Turkey testet the missile systems in the northern Sinop province.

Despite attempts by Congress, the Trump administration had avoided sanctioning Turkey. Trump also said yesterday that he would veto the bill despite a "super majority" allowing the Congress to override a veto. 

"The sanctions include a ban on all US export licenses and authorizations to SSB and an asset freeze and visa restrictions on Dr. İsmail Demir, SSB's president, and other SSB officers," said Pompeo.

"Turkey is a valued Ally and an important regional security partner for the United States, and we seek to continue our decades-long history of productive defense-sector cooperation by removing the obstacle of Turkey's S-400 possession as soon as possible," he added.

"Despite our warnings, Turkey moved ahead with its purchase and testing of the S-400 system from Russia. Today's sanctions on Turkey's SSB demonstrates the US will fully implement CAATSA," Pompeo later said on Twitter. "We will not tolerate significant transactions with Russia's defense sector."

Despite our warnings, Turkey moved ahead with its purchase and testing of the S-400 system from Russia. Today's sanctions on Turkey's SSB demonstrates the U.S. will fully implement #CAATSA. We will not tolerate significant transactions with Russia's defense sector.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 14, 2020

Ankara "condemns and rejects" the sanctions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement later, saying that it "condemns and rejects unilateral sanctions."

"The conditions which compelled Turkey to acquire S-400 systems are well known. President Trump himself has admitted on many instances that Turkey's acquisition was justified," said the ministry, referring to oprevious remarks by the US President.

Trump said in June 2019 that former President Barack Obama administration had treated Turkey unfairly when Ankara requested to purchase US defense systems.

"Obama administration said no, no, no to Turkey when they wanted to purchase Patriots and they [Turkey] bought S400," Trump said during his closing speech at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

"US allegations that S-400 systems will jeopardize NATO systems are devoid of any technical merit," the ministry furher said. "Moreover, Turkey has repeatedly proposed to address this issue in an objective, realistic and politically unbiased manner through a working group with the participation of NATO.

"Therefore, the U.S. recourse to unilateral sanctions, by refusing our proposal to solve this matter through dialogue and diplomacy as befitting two allies, is completely senseless.

"Turkey will take the necessary steps against this decision, which will negatively affect our relations and will retaliate in a manner and timing it deems appropriate. Turkey will never refrain from taking the necessary measures to safeguard its national security." (EKN/VK)