The United States imposed sanctions on Turkey for purchase of S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia. The sanctions come into effect tomorrow, Wednesday.
The State Department has imposed sanctions on the Republic of Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) pursuant to Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s main arms export entity, by procuring the S-400 surface-to-air missile system.
The sanctions, which will come into effect tomorrow, Wednesday, include a ban on all US export licenses and authorisations to SSB and an asset freeze and visa restrictions on Dr Ismail Demir, SSB’s president, and other SSB officers. the statement said.
Background
In 2017, Turkey signed a deal with Russia to acquire the System, which caused tensions between Turkey and other members of NATO. US lawmakers had been pressing the President to impose sanctions on Turkey for the transaction. Congress ultimately stepped in and made the determination in Section 1241 that Turkey’s acquisition of the System constitutes “a significant transaction” that would trigger sanctions under CAATSA 231 which authorizes and requires the President to impose sanctions against persons who knowingly engage in “a significant transaction” with the defense or intelligence sectors of the Russian government.
