Sources said the announcement of the sanctions in their current form was imminent, while a Turkish official called them “unproductive.”
By REUTERS
First parts of a Russian S-400 missile defense system are unloaded from a Russian plane at Murted Airport, known as Akinci Air Base, near Ankara, Turkey, July 12, 2019.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
WASHINGTON – The United States is poised to impose sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition last year of Russian S-400 air defense systems, four sources including two US officials told Reuters on Thursday, a move likely to worsen already problematic ties between the two NATO allies.
The long-anticipated step, which is likely to infuriate Ankara and severely complicate relations with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, could be announced any day, sources said.
The Turkish lira weakened following the news. US sanctions could harm a Turkish economy already struggling with a coronavirus-induced slowdown, double-digit inflation and badly depleted foreign reserves.
The US State Department could alter its plans and widen or narrow the scope of planned sanctions against Turkey, a NATO ally for decades.
However, sources said the announcement of the sanctions in their current form was imminent and suggested the United States — after long waiting for Turkey to change course in the face of US warnings about sanctions requirements under the law — was finally ready to act.
The Pentagon referred questions on any potential sanctions to the State Department. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russia delivered the ground-to-air S-400s last year and Turkey tested them as recently as October. Ankara said they would not be integrated into NATO systems and pose no threat, and has called for a joint working group on the issue.
“Sanctions would not achieve a result but be counter-productive. They would harm relations,” a senior Turkish official said after reports said Washington was poised to impose sanctions.
“Turkey is in favor of solving these problems with diplomacy and negotiations. We won’t accept one-sided impositions,” he said.