SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday U.S. sanctions over Ankara’s purchase of Russian defenses had shaken all values in their alliance and he called for renewed cooperation between the NATO allies.
On Monday, Washington imposed the sanctions targeting Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industry (SSB), its chairman and three other employees.
“This sanctions decision has shaken all values in our countries’ alliance,” Akar said, according to Reuters. “Returning to cooperation and solidarity with the United States … will provide an important contribution to regional and global peace and security.”
The sanctions include a ban on all U.S. export licenses as well as asset freezes and visa restrictions for SSB’s president, Ismail Demir, and three other employees.
Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 ground-to-air defenses in mid-2019 and says they pose no threat to NATO allies. Washington disagrees and has long threatened sanctions, and last year removed Turkey from an F-35 jet program.
The U.S. State Department said it hoped it will be possible to find a resolution to Turkey’s decision to buy the S-400 air defense system from Russia.
“This decision left us no alternative,” Christopher Ford, Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation told reporters on a conference call.
“We hope that the Turkish government will be willing to engage with us in trying to find a resolution to this.”
(Esta Media Network/Reuters)
