US sanctions NATO ally Turkey over purchase of Russian missile defense system

December 15, 2020

Navy Times:

 

The Trump administration, on Monday, imposed sanctions on its NATO ally Turkey over its purchase of a Russian air defense system, in a striking move against a longtime partner that sets the stage for further confrontation between the two nations as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office.

The extraordinary step against a treaty ally comes at a delicate time in relations between Washington and Ankara, which have been at odds for years over Turkey’s acquisition, from Russia, of the S-400 missile defense system, along with Turkish actions in Syria, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in the eastern Mediterranean.

The sanctions, which were required under U.S. law dating to 2017, if the administration deemed there to be violations, add another element of uncertainty to the relationship, as Trump winds down his term. The move is the first time that law, known as CAATSA, has been used to penalize a U.S. ally…

 

Click here to read the full article.

Contact

Curtis Stiles - Chief of Staff