The United States is ready to impose sanctions against Turkey due to the decision of the Turkish authorities to deploy Russian S-400 air defense systems.

The sanctions are stipulated in the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The document agreed by both houses of Congress was published the day before.

The final draft budget has been sent to the head of state for signature.

The bill states that sanctions are provided for by the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

In the part devoted to restrictions against Turkey, it is said that "to help NATO allies in the acquisition and deployment of modern military equipment capable of interacting with the forces of the alliance", as well as "to contain aggression against allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by the Russian Federation "- in the interests of US national security.

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In addition, Washington is interested in reducing the dependence of its supporters on "Russian-made or Soviet-era defense products."

The document also prescribes "to create opportunities for enhancing the potential of NATO member states in the field of countering Russian malicious influence."

“No later than 30 days after the date of entry into force of this law, the US President must impose five or more of the sanctions listed in Art.

235 of the Law "On Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions" (22 USC 9529) against all persons who knowingly participated in the acquisition of the S-400 air defense system, "the bill says.

One of the supporters of anti-Turkish sanctions, Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, welcomed the introduction of a restriction clause in the defense budget.

“I am incredibly proud that I helped make sure that the Law on Budgetary Appropriations for National Defense included an article about what President Trump refused to do: officially decree on behalf of the American government that Turkey accepted the delivery of Russian S-400 air defense systems , in connection with which it will be sanctioned in accordance with the existing legislation, "the politician wrote on Twitter.

Party approach

However, the adoption of the defense budget this year may be delayed: earlier the head of the White House, Donald Trump, threatened to block the document.

The reason for this was not anti-Turkish sanctions, but a long-standing dispute between the president and lawmakers over whether social networks should be responsible for the content of their users.

Now, according to Art.

230 of the Communication Decency Act, technology companies are not liable under the law for materials posted on their sites.

Donald Trump is demanding that this rule be abolished by including new rules in the defense budget bill.

According to experts, if the adoption of the budget is delayed until the end of January, then after the inauguration of the US President Joe Biden may revise the clause on sanctions against Turkey.

This assumption, in an interview with RT, was expressed by the director of the Center for the Study of New Turkey, Yuri Mavashev.

“It is unlikely that Biden will begin interaction with the Turkish administration with sanctions steps.

Rather, he will start a dialogue with Erdogan, and then he will make a decision.

There is a chance that he will not sign the document and send it back for revision, ”the expert suggested.

Although it was the Democratic Party that previously most actively advocated sanctions against Turkey, Mavashev added.

  • Launcher of the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system

  • RIA News

  • © Maxim Blinov

Viktor Supyan, Deputy Director of the Institute of the USA and Canada, RAS, adheres to a somewhat different point of view.

“Most likely, the sanctions will be introduced.

Both Republicans and Democrats are united on this issue.

Both parties are in favor of measures to influence Turkey, "the expert emphasized in a commentary on RT.

Earlier, Washington has already imposed restrictions against Ankara.

The US defense budget for 2020 included a ban on the supply of F-35 fighters to Turkey.

The reason for the imposition of the ban was also the purchase by the Turkish authorities of the Russian S-400 air defense systems.

The NDAA for 2020 clarified that the embargo could be lifted if the Turkish authorities abandon Russian air defense systems.

For this, the Congress had to receive confirmation that Turkey no longer possesses the Triumph air defense system or the equipment associated with the operation of the complex.

In addition, Ankara was required to provide "reliable guarantees" that in the future it would not sign contracts with Russia for the supply of S-400s.

However, the Turkish authorities did not give in to this pressure.

In October 2020, President of the Republic Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed to reporters that the Turkish military conducted the first tests of Russian air defense systems.

“Tests of the S-400 complexes continue.

Ankara is not going to take into account the US position on this issue, ”Turkish Anadolu news agency quoted Erdogan as saying.

Earlier, in August 2020, it became known that Russia and Turkey had concluded a deal to supply the Turkish army with an additional batch of S-400 Triumph long-range systems.

Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheev told reporters about this during the Army-2020 forum. 

Recall that the first contract for the supply of Russian air defense systems to Turkey was signed in April 2017.

The contract was finally executed in the fall of 2019.

The cost of the four air defense missile systems manufactured for the Turkish Armed Forces amounted to $ 2.5 billion. Ankara pledged to pay 45% of this amount in advance, the remaining 55% were provided by Russia as a loan.

Friendship in spite of

The fact that Washington is preparing to impose new sanctions against Turkey due to the purchase of Russian air defense systems became known at the end of October.

Clark Cooper, Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs in charge of arms trade, told reporters about it.

"There is such a risk because they (Turkish colleagues. -

RT

) ... continue to work with the S-400," he said, adding that after testing this weapon, "the imposition of sanctions is very possible."

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  • Reuters

  • © Presidential Press Office

In turn, Ankara reminded Washington that the Russian S-300 air defense systems had long been deployed in another NATO country - in Greece.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu drew attention to this, speaking on December 4 at the Mediterranean Dialogue Forum.

The minister confirmed that there are disagreements between the United States and Turkey on the S-400 issue.

At the same time, speaking about Turkey's decision to purchase the S-400 systems from Russia, Cavusoglu said that it was made not at will, but out of necessity.

He also noted that it would be worth asking why NATO allies did not sell Patriot air defense systems to Turkey when Turkey needed them most.

However, he stressed that, despite certain disagreements, "no one has the right to question Turkey's membership in NATO."

According to experts, although the sanctions will worsen the already difficult US-Turkish relations, Turkey will remain a member of the North Atlantic Alliance.

“The sanctions will not hit the Turkish economy, and Turkey will remain a military ally of the United States, although the sanctions will cloud the already strained relations between the countries.

But neither Turkey nor the alliance needs the country's withdrawal from NATO.

Especially if you take into account nearly 30 NATO bases on Turkish territory, ”Yuri Mavashev noted.

Viktor Supyan shares this point of view.

“Turkish NATO membership is beneficial for both Ankara and Washington.

For the United States, Turkey is an important springboard for the alliance in the region.

At the same time, Erdogan will remain with his decision on the procurement of the S-400.

He is playing his game - trying to become a regional leader and make Turkey a regional superpower, ”the expert summed up.