US Secretary of State announced sanctions against Turkey over purchase of S-400 from Russia
The United States imposed sanctions against the secretariat of the defense industry of Turkey and its head Ismail Demir for the purchase of Russian S-400 systems. This was announced by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
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 a>
“Despite our warnings, Turkey continued to purchase and test S-400 systems in Russia. Today's SSB sanctions in Turkey demonstrate that the US will fully comply with CAATSA. We will not tolerate major deals with the Russian defense sector. We will not tolerate major deals with the Russian defense sector, ”he said.
Sanctions are imposed for knowingly participating in a deal with Rosoboronexport, Russia's main arms export company, by purchasing the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, the document says, published by the US Department of State.
“We have proposed other systems compatible with NATO standards and made it clear that the S-400 is incompatible with Turkey’s NATO commitments,” said US Deputy Secretary of State Keil Brown.
The sanctions include a ban on the issuance of licenses and export permits for the Turkish Defense Industry Authority (SSB), as well as the freezing of assets of the head of the Turkish Defense Industry Secretariat Ismail Demir and other department officials in the United States.
The main US concern is that the S-400 could be used to gather intelligence on the covert capabilities of the F-35.
Ankara argues that an air defense system is an urgent need, given the military conflicts around the country, and said that allies, including the United States, could not offer it any alternatives - like the Patriot system - on conditions acceptable to Turkey.