US sanctions Turkey over Russian S-400 system

The US government imposed sanctions on Turkey over the acquisition and testing of the S-400 Russian defence missile system in an unprecedented escalation between the two Nato members that will likely further strain relations.

The State Department announced the sanctions under CAATSA, the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, passed by Congress in 2017. It is designed to penalise any significant transactions with Russia, and in the case of the S-400, the estimated cost of the missile system is $2.5 billion. Despite pressure from Congress, the Trump administration delayed enforcing these sanctions on Ankara, even after the country deployed the Russian system in July 2019 and began testing it in October.

"Today’s action sends a clear signal that the US will fully implement CAATSA Section 231 and will not tolerate significant transactions with Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after sanctions were announced.

Mr Pompeo stated that the sanctions came after Turkey "knowingly [engaged] in a significant transaction with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s main arms export entity, by procuring the S-400 surface-to-air missile system."

The sanctions include a ban on all US export licenses and authorisations to Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries as well as an asset freeze and visa restrictions on Ismail Demir, the company president, and other officers.

Congress passed the final version of the US annual defence bill on Friday, which included a provision requiring the president to sanction Turkey over the S-400 sale under CAATSA.

Although President Trump has threatened to veto the bill following Congress’ refusal to include unrelated language repealing liability protections for social media companies, both the Senate and the House passed the legislation with veto-proof majorities.

Notably, the defence bill stipulates that the president can remove the CAATSA sanctions if Turkey relinquishes the Russian missile system.

But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has doubled down on the S-400 issue, saying on Friday that US sanctions would be “disrespectful”.

The European Union also imposed narrow sanctions on Turkey over its energy exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean amid growing tensions with Greece and Cyprus due to Ankara’s drilling activities and military deployments off the coast of the disputed island.