The United States has warned Turkey in the past two days against exporting chemicals, microchips and other products to Russia that could be used in its war effort in Ukraine, and a senior US official has warned that the country may act to punish Turkish companies and banks that violate sanctions against Moscow.
The warning came during a meeting held by the chief sanctions official at the US Treasury (financial) Brian Nelson with officials from the government and the private sector in Turkey last Thursday and Friday, to urge more cooperation to impede the flow of goods to Russia that it may use in the war.
In a speech to Turkish bankers, Nelson said a significant year-on-year increase in exports to Russia leaves Turkish entities "particularly exposed to reputational and sanction risks" or losing access to G7 markets.
Dual use
And the US official added - according to a copy of his letter, which was published on Friday by the US Treasury Department - that additional precautions should be taken to avoid transactions related to possible transfers of dual-use technology, which could be used by the Russian military-industrial complex.
Another senior US official - who requested anonymity - said that the chief sanctions official at the Treasury Department and members of his accompanying delegation spoke during the meetings held in Ankara and Istanbul about Turkish exports worth tens of millions of dollars to Russia, which raises Washington's concern.
He added, "It is not surprising that Russia is aggressively seeking to benefit from the historical economic relations that it has with Turkey. The question is: What will be the Turkish response?"
Turkey opposes the wide sanctions imposed by the West on Russia after it launched the war on Ukraine, but Ankara says that no sanctions against Russia have been evaded, and urged the West to provide evidence of this.
Russian records
Citing Russian customs records, Reuters reported in December 2022 that components for computers and other electronic components worth at least $2.6 billion flowed into Russia during the 7 months to October 31 of last year.
Western companies have made at least $777 million worth of these products, and chips from these companies have been found in Russian weapons systems.
Havas (Turkey's largest provider of ground services to airlines in Russia and Belarus) said it may stop providing spare parts, fuel and other services for its US-made aircraft in line with the Western embargo, Reuters reported on Friday, quoting Khattab. From the company on January 31, 2018.
In September 2022, 5 Turkish banks suspended the use of the Russian payment system "MIR" (MIR) after the US Treasury targeted the head of the entity operating the system with new sanctions, and warned those helping Moscow not to circumvent it.