US Passes Sanctions Legislation Against Turkey

The United States House of Representatives has passed a law imposing sanctions against Turkey in connection with the purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems. This marks the latest move to push US President Donald Trump towards a tougher stance against Ankara, as reported by Al-Monitor.

House lawmakers approved the amendments with a vote of 295 in favor and 125 against, introduced by members of both the Republican and Democratic parties, Adam Kinzinger and Abigail Spanberger.

The publication notes that disagreements between NATO allies Turkey and the US arose due to Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400s. According to Washington, this is incompatible with the alliance’s defensive systems.

The United States also halted the supply of 100 F-35 aircraft to Turkey and removed the country from the fifth-generation fighter jet production program after Ankara received the first batch of Russian S-400 missile systems last July. However, Trump refrained from imposing harsh sanctions on Ankara.

Incidentally, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch has also proposed a similar amendment in the upper chamber's defense bill, allowing the Trump administration to impose sanctions on Turkey within 30 days of the bill's passage.