Turkey strongly rejects US sanctions decision

By Burak Bir and Seda Sevencan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish officials on Monday denounced a US decision to impose sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.

Criticizing the move, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said the sanctions will only boost the country's determination on steps to strengthen its national interests and defense industry under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"No country's sanctions will sway Turkey's determined stance. We condemn this decision and call on the US to step back from this mistake as soon as possible," Oktay said on Twitter.

Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop said the sanctions ill fit the spirit of alliance. "We will continue to take every step with determination necessary for the defense of our country," he said on Twitter.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also stressed Turkey’s determined stance in the face of sanctions, adding that Turkey will decisively continue to take steps to achieve its defense industry goals.

"No decision taken abroad towards myself or our institutions will change the stance of me or my team," Ismail Demir, head of Turkey’s Defense Industry Presidency – which the sanctions specifically target – tweeted after the sanctions announcement.

The sanctions will not be able to hinder the Turkish defense industry in any way, he added.

The acting chair of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party called for US to "immediately" reconsider its sanctions decision, adding that the move will not stand in the way of the country's defense industry goals.

"On the eve of new Turkey-US relations, the US declaration of unilateral sanctions against our country is extremely irrational and desperate for the future of our relations," Numan Kurtulmus said on Twitter.

In a written statement, Turkey's Foreign Ministry denounced the sanctions.

"We condemn and reject the decision to impose unilateral sanctions against Turkey as announced today by the US in the context of Turkey’s acquisition of S-400 air defense systems," the ministry said.

Before the decision on Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said its ally the US should support it, not put sanctions on it.

- US sanctions

The US Treasury Department on Monday imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.

The sanctions, coming under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), target Turkey's Defense Industries (SSB) Presidency, including its head Demir and three other officials.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the SSB 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 authorizations to SSB and an asset freeze and visa restrictions on Dr. Ismail Demir, SSB’s president, and other SSB officers," he added.

President Donald Trump said in June 2019 that his predecessor President Barack Obama had treated Turkey unfairly when Ankara requested to purchase US Patriot missile defense systems.