The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a bill that provides for sanctions against Turkey. Congressmen explain the necessity of introducing restrictive measures by the fact that Ankara is conducting the “Source of Peace” military operation in Syrian territory near the Turkish borders, and also acquired the Russian S-400 air defense systems.
The stated purpose of the bill is "support for US national security and the prevention of the revival of the Islamic State *, as well as the fulfillment of other tasks." The authors of the document believe that the Turkish military can help restore the terrorist group.
“Turkey’s military invasion of northeast Syria is an unacceptable and inappropriate escalation of tension, which could potentially lead to a serious humanitarian crisis and nullify the joint successes in the fight against IS made by the United States and another 81 states and organizations that are members of the Global Coalition for the fight against IS, including NATO and the EU, ”the bill says.
At the same time, the sanctions, according to congressmen, are "a justified retaliatory measure aimed at holding Turkey accountable for its military offensive in northeastern Syria."
In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement stating that Washington did not want to take into account the position of Ankara.
“Now they are trying to pass the draft resolution through the US Senate, which suggests that Washington did not want to take into account the explanations of the Turkish side. Ankara calls on the US Congress for a constructive position, sanity and refusal to prejudice the development of bilateral relations, outlined by the leadership of the two countries during the recent negotiations in Washington, ”the state news agency Anadolu quoted the statement as saying.
At the same time, Turkish diplomats are convinced that sanctions are being prepared because of the desire of some American political circles to defend a project that they were preparing on Syrian territory.
“Ankara is well aware of the reasons for preparing a resolution imposing sanctions against Turkey in connection with Operation Source of Peace and the contract for the supply of S-400 air defense systems. The true reason for the development of the document is the frustration of certain circles related to the crushing blow that Turkey inflicted on a project that had been preparing for a long time in the north of Syria, ”the Turkish Foreign Ministry emphasized.
Moreover, this law will not have any effect on the adoption of the S-400 for the armament of the Turkish army, Ibrahim Kalym, spokesman for the Turkish president, is convinced.
“After the congress, the document will go to the table at (US President Donald. - RT ) Trump. And we know that Trump is positive towards Turkey. But in any case, this will not have any effect on our plans for the S-400, the process will continue ... There is no retreat on this topic. Our military will control and use the S-400, ”he told reporters.
- © TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTRY / AFP
Thus, Ankara said that she knew about the disagreements in the ruling circles in Washington, and therefore will continue to adhere to her position, said Pavel Salin, director of the center for political science studies at the University of Finance.
“Istanbul recognizes that the American establishment has different points of view, but the position of the Turkish side remains the same. To make such a decision on the S-400, political will is needed. The will to turn from an object into a subject. The Turkish leadership has long demonstrated such a will, ”he told RT.
Mitigate the effects
The author of the document is James Risch, Republican, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 18 senators acted as co-authors, 12 of whom are members of the Democratic Party, and the rest are Republicans.
“As long as the S-400 are in Turkey, under the control of Turkey, F-35 will not be delivered to this country. This is Erdogan's choice, and he is well aware of its consequences. In addition, Erdogan's invasion of northeastern Syria will destabilize the situation, and this law will help stop any future actions that jeopardize our friends and partners, the Syrian Kurds, and any actions that jeopardize the US strategy to defeat ISIS in Syria. I hope that soon the full Senate will vote on this critically important bill, ”the committee’s website quoted Rish as saying.
According to the American publication The Hill, the administration of US President Donald trump opposed the bill. Despite this, 18 members of the committee voted “for” and only four “against”.
Most likely, the bill will eventually be adopted by the Senate, but Trump will try to mitigate its consequences, the expert of the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies Vladimir Bruter is convinced.
“After the bill is adopted - and I have no doubt that it will be passed in some form - Trump will try to partially win back it by introducing some sanctions, but by doing so in a way that does not completely worsen relations with Turkey,” he told RT .
Congress itself decided to play the role of “overseer of the world,” said Bruter. However, Trump has a different position, and therefore the conflict between them will continue, the expert believes.
- © Joshua Roberts / Reuters
Sanctions against officials and the military
According to the text of the document, the proposed sanctions are directed against the leadership of Turkey, the armed forces and financial institutions of the country. So, restrictive measures will be directed against the large state bank Halk Bankasi. Note that this is the seventh largest bank in the country in terms of assets.
There is a ban on the sale of military goods, services or technology from the United States to Turkey, if they can be used on Syrian territory.
The US President will be required at every international financial institution to counteract the issuance of loans and borrowings to the Turkish authorities. If any foreign financial institution consciously cooperates with the Turkish military-industrial complex or the armed forces engaged in operations in Syria, the president will have to impose sanctions on them.
Personal sanctions will be imposed against the Minister of Defense of Turkey, the chief of the general staff, the commander of the second army, the minister of finance, as well as those "high-ranking officials" who are involved in the decision to launch a military operation in Syria.
In addition, the Secretary of State, in collaboration with other officials, will have to draw up a report on the means and sources of income of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his close relatives. About what purposes it will be used is not reported.
“No later than 120 days after the date of the adoption of this bill, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Minister of Finance and the Director of National Intelligence, is obliged to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report assessing the volume of net assets and with known sources of income of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family members (wife , children, parents and siblings). The report should include its assets, investments, other business interests, as well as relevant information on beneficial ownership, ”the bill says.
In addition, the White House will have to impose at least five sanctions under the "Law on Countering the Enemies of America" (CAATSA) for the purchase of S-400.
Sanctions pressure is a US-style foreign policy, Salin noted. He explained that in this way Washington is trying to force Ankara to negotiate.
“Washington is thus trying to come to terms with Ankara, but in its usual style. This decision on sanctions is not final, it still needs to be approved by the American president. That is, in this way, Washington is trying to conduct a dialogue with Turkey, but from a position of strength, ”the analyst emphasized.
"Washington is trying to come to terms in its own style."
Congressmen are also worried about the impact of Turkey’s actions on NATO unity and security. Senators are convinced that the military operation in Syria "undermines the security of the United States and its NATO allies."
In addition, the authors of the bill believe that the decision to conduct Operation Source of Peace does not comply with the first article of the North Atlantic Treaty. According to it, all countries that signed the agreement must resolve disputes by peaceful means, without jeopardizing international security.
In this regard, the senators consider it necessary to draw up a report, which will include three points - an assessment of Turkey’s total contribution to NATO since joining, an assessment of the impact of the “Source of Peace” on the national security of Ankara’s Allies in the North Atlantic Alliance, and an assessment of the country's ability to fulfill all provisions of the treaty in the future .
This approach suggests that the United States does not treat its NATO allies as equal, said Alexander Sherin, first deputy chairman of the State Duma’s defense committee.
“This decision suggests that the Americans do not perceive their NATO partners as equal. They see everyone only as subordinates. Such actions are contrary to the spirit of partnership, and Turkey can no longer rely on the United States in some more difficult situations, if they turned away from it in such a simple one, ”he told RT.
* “Islamic State” (ISIS, ISIS) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.