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Summary
- The United States is mulling to enforce sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence systems
- Turkey has defended the deal with Russia by saying that the country is in urgent need to ramp up its air defence system considering the military conflict in the region.
- The European Union is also putting pressure on Turkey over its aggressive energy exploration movements in the eastern Mediterranean
The US and EU are planning to inflict pressure on Turkey. While the US wants to put sanctions for buying S-400 missiles or air defence systems from Russia in 2019, the EU, on the other hand, is targeting Turkey for its involvement in energy exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean.
US President Donald Trump reportedly has signed off a package of US measures recommended by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The US is reportedly planning to inflict sanctions on Turkey under the CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). However, the details of sanctions have not yet been disclosed.
Earlier, Trump had overlooked cross-party calls from Congress to penalize Turkey for the deal with Russia.
On its part, Turkey has said the deal with Russia to buy S-400 is crucial as the country is in urgent need to ramp up its air defence system considering the military conflict in the region. It stated that the allies, including the US, have been unable to provide any other alternative to the Patriot missile defence system to Turkey on its agreeable terms.
Turkey’s move to purchase S-400 air defence systems came after it was barred from the US-led F-35 programme. Turkey had plans to purchase nearly 100 of the next generation fighters manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
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The US sanctions on Turkey would be detrimental for the already struggling Turkish economy battered due to the coronavirus crisis. It could lead to high inflation and severely dwindling foreign reserves. In addition, the US is expected to put sanctions on various Turkish companies.
The sanctions imposed by the US is seen as a message to the US allies who are considering purchasing Russian military equipment.
On the other hand, the EU is maintaining the list of people who are engaged in Ankara’s energy exploration endeavours in the eastern Mediterranean, Greece and Cyprus. The EU is also planning to impose limited restrictions in a bid to postpone any stricter measures until March.
The EU measures, which had been passed by leaders at a Brussels summit, impose a temporary end on gaps within the EU over Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan’s aggressive military activities in the region and his push for energy resources in Greece and Cyprus waters.
The relationship between Turkey and the EU has deteriorated in recent years despite agreeing to a migration deal for which the EU has spent billions of euros to help Turkey prevent Syrian refugees from entering Europe.
