US Threatens Turkey with New Sanctions for Purchasing Weapons from Russia

The United States will apply additional unilateral sanctions against Turkey if the country continues to procure large systems of weapons and military equipment from Russia. This warning was issued by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

“We continue to oppose Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. We have made it clear that new major purchases of weapons from Russia will be followed by additional sanctions. The sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara and their joint production will remain suspended,” Nuland said during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

She expressed that she and many members of the U.S. administration find it puzzling why a NATO ally would wish to acquire Russian systems, jeopardizing everything, including the joint production of the new generation F-35 fighter jets.

In 2017, Russia and Turkey reached an agreement for Moscow to supply Ankara with S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, making Turkey the first NATO member to purchase these systems from Russia. This decision drew negative reactions both from the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Since December 2020, the U.S. has imposed sanctions against Turkey.