US announces sanctions on Turkey for purchasing Russian missile defense system

CAIRO – 14 December 2020: United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would impose sanctions on Turkey, a NATO ally, for purchasing the S-400 surface-to-air missile system, in a significant transaction with Russian Rosoboronexport arms export entity.

The sanctions would be applied on Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), in accordance with Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), Pompeo was quoted in a State Department’s statement as saying.

Under the sanctions, the SSB will be banned from all US export licenses and authorizations. They also mean an asset freeze and visa restrictions on Ismail Demir, SSB’s president, and other SSB officers.

“The United States made clear to Turkey at the highest levels and on numerous occasions that its purchase of the S-400 system would endanger the security of US military technology and personnel and provide substantial funds to Russia’s defense sector, as well as Russian access to the Turkish armed forces and defense industry,” a statement by the State Department read.

“Turkey nevertheless decided to move ahead with the procurement and testing of the S-400, despite the availability of alternative, NATO-interoperable systems to meet its defense requirements.  This decision resulted in Turkey’s suspension and pending removal from the global F-35 Joint Strike Fighter partnership.”

“Today’s action sends a clear signal that the United States will fully implement CAATSA Section 231 and will not tolerate significant transactions with Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors.”

“I also urge Turkey to resolve the S-400 problem immediately in coordination with the United States. 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.”