Trump signs punitive measures package against Turkey under CAATSA

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump signed a package of punitive measures against Turkey for purchasing Russian air defense system S400. Reuters reported that the sanctions are likely targeting Turkish defense officials, including the head of the Defense Industries Agency. Bloomberg quoted two sources stating that U.S. President Donald Trump had signed the  sanctions package, initiated by the State Department, on Turkey which were imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) from 2017.

CAATSA was passed in Congress when Turkey bought the S400 and requires the U.S. to impose sanctions on countries buying weapons and military equipment from NATO-adversary Russia.

According to Bloomberg, the sanction details were not disclosed, but Reuters quoted U.S. sources saying that the sanctions were targeting the Turkish Defense Industries Agency and its head Ismail Demir. The U.S. officials said the sanctions would likely to anger Ankara and could severely complicate relations with the incoming U.S. administration led by President-elect Joe Biden: “U.S. sanctions against Turkey for purchasing the S-400 air defense system will be counterproductive and will damage relations between the two NATO members,” a senior Turkish official told Reuters, “Turkey supports the resolution of these problems through diplomacy and negotiations, and will not accept unilateral sanctions.”

Oh, mini-sultan #Erdogan, you big tease you! Seems like only yesterday you were mocking the Trump Administration with "don't delay on those sanctions!" NOW he postures as a NATO ally. https://t.co/7DljQhN5mC

— Alberto Miguel Fernandez (@AlbertoMiguelF5) December 11, 2020