Daily US Times: The US has issued sanctions against Turkey over its deployment of a Russian-made missile defence system, known as S-400 surface-to-air missile system, acquired last year.
The US says this Russian missile system is incompatible with Nato technology and a threat to the Euro-Atlantic alliance.
The state department announced the sanctions on Monday, which target Turkey’s weapons procurement sector.
The move was swiftly condemned by officials in Russia and Turkey.
The US had already kicked Turkey, both of the countries are Nato allies, out of its F-35 fighter jet programme over the purchase of the Russian-made missile system.
What is the US objecting to?
The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement: “The United States made clear to Turkey at the highest levels and on numerous occasions that its purchase of the S-400 system would endanger the security of US military technology and personnel and provide substantial funds to Russia’s defense sector, as well as Russian access to the Turkish armed forces and defense industry.”
Mr Pompeo said Turkey nevertheless decided to move ahead with the procurement and testing of the S-400, despite there are other alternatives, including Nato-interoperable systems to meet its defense requirements.
Mr Pompeo urged Turkey to resolve the S-400 problem immediately in co-ordination with the US.
The sanctions target Ismail Demir, Turkey’s Defence Industries Directorate president and three other employees.
The sanctions also include a ban on US export licences, as well a freeze on any assets that are in US jurisdictions.
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