WASHINGTON (US) – Miffed over Turkey’s acquisition of Russian S-400 aid defense systems last year, Washington is preparing to impose curbs on Ankara. The move is likely to strain the ties between the two NATO allies.
This move has been long anticipated and it will raise the hackles of Turkey and affect the relations with the new administration of Joe Biden.
Sources said the new US sanctions would target Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries and Ismail Demir, who heads it.
It is reported that President Donald Trump gave his nod for the sanctions.
As news of the US move trickled out, the Turkish lira weakened as much as 1.4%. The curbs could impact a Turkish economy which is struggling with the pandemic and double-digit inflation and depleted foreign reserves.
“Sanctions would not achieve a result but be counter-productive. They would harm relations,” said a senior Turkish official. “Turkey is in favour of solving these problems with diplomacy and negotiations. We won’t accept one-sided impositions,” he added.
This decision of Washington will be a warning to all allies around the world who are mulling buying Russian military equipment or technology.
President Tayyip Erdogan hoped that his relations with Trump would protect his country from US punitive action.