Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
A year-and-a-half after Turkey first acquired Russia’s advanced S-400 missile defense systems, introducing deep cracks within the NATO alliance particularly over fears the Kremlin could gain vital intelligence on NATO systems like the Lockheed F-35 jets, the United States has finally implemented sanctions on Turkey.
It’s likely going to be the most consequential and surprising action of the Trump presidency a mere few weeks before President-Elect Biden enters the White House on January 20, coming after immense bipartisan pressure from Congress demanding that Trump act swiftly. This after he’s long been criticized for “looking the other way” on Turkey’s egregious anti-US behavior given his supposed ‘special relationship’ with Turkey’s Erdogan. Crucially Biden has promised to “get tough” on Erdogan, which no doubt added to the pressure.
Particularly the newly announced US Treasury sanctions target Turkey’s defense procurement agency, which is called the Presidency of Defense Industries (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı, or SSB). This is to include its senior officials on up to its president, Ismail Demir.
“The sanctions bar the company from receiving loans from international financial institutions and agencies including the U.S. Export-Import Bank,” notes Bloomberg of the freshly unveiled punitive measures on the country that boasts of NATO’s second largest military behind the US.
Days ago amid reports that sanctions were coming, Erdogan blasted any such potential plan as deeply “disrespectful” which would unleash far-reaching harm.
“I don’t know where this will lead to before Trump leaves but during the four-year Trump period, I didn’t have any problems in communicating with America,” Erdogan said Friday.
“For America to get up and confront Turkey with a matter like CAATSA is disrespectful to a very important NATO partner,” Erdogan had added, referring to the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act under which the sanctions are being leveled.
BREAKING: US Sanctions #Turkey for Buying Russian S400 System
• Sanctions Presidency of defense industries
• Ban on all export licenses
• Sanctions Ismail Demir
• Sanctions SSB officers
• Visa restrictions https://t.co/VVS6MMZb0l— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) December 14, 2020
Meanwhile, Russia was quick to react after the US Treasury midday announcement, with Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov calling the sanctions “illegitimate”. He said it shows US “arrogance towards international law”.
Turkey for its part has vowed “retaliation as necessary” without offering further details.
Importantly Erdogan during his earlier comments anticipating looming US action over the S-400s addressed the future relationship with the Biden White House. “He is someone who knows me very well. And I know him very well,” Erdogan said of Biden, but he simply left it at that of the man who on the campaign trail dubbed the Turkish president an “autocrat”.
One tangential question and reminder that remains is this… is this too part of Putin’s supposed ‘influence op’ over the Trump White House? This is of course only for those who spent years hyperventilating while floating such derange conspiracy theories as “Trump is a Russian asset” and related paranoid notions.
Lavrov criticizes US sanctions against Turkey Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov underlined on Monday that the sanctions that the United States has announced against Turkey show that Washington holds an “arrogant attitude towards international law.”
The measures do not help “the credibility of the US on the international arena,” Russian top diplomat also stressed at a press conference.
Earlier in the day, Washington imposed sanctions against Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries over Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. https://www.teletrader.com/lavrov-criticizes-us-sanctions-against-turkey/news/details/54070775?internal=1
I would not place much trust in Lavrov, he is just a parrot who tows the western line.
Iran needs to toe the line with turkey and russia here on in,with or without hato matters not,what counts is you insolent kweer wedgie conquer than divde cia bots get smashed outta the fmkn way for good,and yes lavrov can bitchslap you too,liar!
Lavrov was outlining the importance of international law, vs unlawful sanctions…….not defending Turkey at all.
What doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger and my dear big brother a Turkish proverb: The wolf gets over the winter but he does not forget the frosty he encountered.
They look cute now, but they will slaughter your livestock when older just for the hell of it. :) https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/200659067443938d473466c6c1ac206227a180d15d8e93188ac061c68a2c5bb7.jpg
3-4 kangal dogs with collar spike can get rid of them..
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b834f31140853eb4131e9400add465f485adb2752dba7646ed9126d38d8aa330.jpg
Kangals :) They are the best shephard dogs. Pure Anatolian, very clever and useful against wolves, jackals and even bears.
Turkey needs to strengthen relations with Iran and not depend on Russia as it has been its traditional enemy. Turkey’s best card is to destroy NATO at a time US is in decline and China is the primary world power.
That means Turkey should go to war against Europe, and then Europe should go to war against Russia, and after that we arrive in Normandie to clean up the mess, and then we saved you.
The hardship the Turks will suffer will be the result of a deflating balloon of hubris, and facing reality.
Propagandist,anti-turkish,circular words combined with extreme hatre to Turks which has nothing to do with reality…sanctions were expected… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/17186de939791fa41b738b9b36906f6f405826c33e5dfd966184d0b652430fca.jpg
Not propagandistic at all, Turkey is poor in natural resources and is not self sufficient economically and militarily. They are heavily in debt, and any possible help from Eurasian powers will not be there because of Erdo’s behavior. Qatar’s help will not suffice.
Russia being angry on Washington for puting sanctions on Turkey: https://media1.giphy.com/media/DYH297XiCS2Ck/giphy.gif
Russia itself is facing food shortages and increasing sanctions.
No one in the real world cares about sanctions because russia has never been stronger ever since,dumbass Putin is pushing to get the prices of food lower,fkn drr
Do you understand what that means iq of 70!
USSR was stronger than RF is now. NATO never dared open bases near USSR border. Now RF begs lifting sanctions and finishing NS2 so they can survive.
Where would nato have opened bases in the iron curtain? By NATO moving east, they are extending the logistics and communication lines, and incorporating dubious armed elements into their military complex. US is digging its own grave with sanctions, Europe needs gas from NS2, the sanctions sound like some music every economic power is bored with.
Everybody needs Russian natural resources, nobody needs their products.
No fake news is just that,infact that is froggy micron and merry henchmen whom are fooked!
Both Putin the Jew and Trump the Zionist are Talmudic Chabad assets. So is Erdogan the crypto-Jew (Musanin Cocuklari). http://aanirfan.blogspot.com/2018/02/trump-putin-kosher-nostra.html?m=1
Erdogan is more of a stupid Jew tool, like Putin. Both are expendable and of less use to the west now. Same as Saddam Hussein was used to destroy the Arab world and weaken Iran and when he became to brazen, Iraq was sanctioned and starved. Turkey faces the same fate.
You expendable,useless stinkers like you and your fake mates have no future other than perish from ignorance,obviously can’t fight for sht either because if you had the balls to defend the truth there may be some credentials to substantiate you claims, why best never argue with insolvent weak fuks whom ain’t got the balls to owe up
to responsabilities,but it’s ok,you will see,time is my friend,not yours desperatos!
Agreed.
We watch together as the Turkish “wolves” turn on themselves and tear each other apart after having genocided the indigenous Greek and Armenian population of Anatolia.
These animals hate working and only know how to rape, pillage and murder. The Turks turned Asia Minor into a desert.
Constantinople is an extremely overcrowded sea of ugly concrete buildings often built with easily-crumbled sea sand containing sea shells! When the next major earthquake hits, 100.000+ Turks will die or get injured.
Fertile Anatolia was self-sufficient in food production when Greeks and Armenians farmed the land. Now the savage Turks are forced to buy their meat from Serbia, their cotton from Greece and their lentils from Canada, while Turkish farmers are going bankrupt.
Turkey, the aberration of history.
No, wrong!
Now that China is number one, USSA Zio sanctions are useless long term and actually good for China and they are not as effective as they were in the short term. No country can be sanctioned and starved like Iraq was if China says no.
All USSA sanctions mean today is the USSA loses markets, resources and power to China as China moves right in and take over the former USSA economic role unopposed.
Chinese sanctions now hurt much more then American ones and China rarely uses them making their sanctions much more powerful just ask Australia who are now heading into decades of severe economic depression the USSA can’t help them with at all.
Russian orthodox,yet again lieing gimp got nothing on putin,trump.nor truth,cia/ASSWHOLE!
Roman Abramovich, the Russian-Jewish oligarch and the richest man of Israel, said that Putin is a Jew and Putin can get an Israeli passport anytime he wanted: http://aanirfan.blogspot.com/2018/02/trump-putin-kosher-nostra.html?m=1
Jews lie for their own benefit. You seem to have a propensity for such.
The Jews who control the US Congress have decided that Turkey is becoming too big for its boots and Erdogan will suffer the same fate as Saddam. Turkey fell into the Zionist trap of alienating all its neighbors and now will be politically, militarily and financially squeezed.
Frankly, Turkey was being used by the Zionists to create havoc in the region and weaken the Arabs and sow destabilization. Erdogan being an illiterate street thug was a perfect patsy. Now he has outlived his usefulness for the Zionists and they have decided that in the long term Turkey is a threat to the Yinon plan. So they have pulled the rug under Erdogan. His best bet is to vacate Syria and line up with Iran. The US is weak now and can not challenge a powerful Turko-Iranian block.
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So sure of themself but reality is assfloggeds have no future where as turkeys look great,watch what happens now,with sanctions howe many new bridges turkey will build,happens all the time only eu/slaves lose out HUGE!
Yes exactly Turkey must join the Chinese, Russian, Iranian side or be destroyed as per the Yinon plan. Erdogan was being used like Saddam, Hitler, etc. the list goes on and on of stupid Goyim patsies
That may have been the case back then,however since the failed coup,then they came they tried,they saw but they lost,no future in fascism or lgbtq low iq rants! Insolent dumbassed wannabekweers forget Turkey is mending more with its neighbours than nocando,homosexual eugeddon wannabe spawners of incests, obviously these limp wristed fagglet reichstream media of the goyms are not in control,thus try to twist it in any way the most pathedic cia/eu narcissists tried in vain:
Turkey will further into the arms of Russia, China and Iran. Great strategic outcome from a stupid tactical move by the US . .
Thank you Golda Meir.
No, Russia, China and Iran and others do not want a poisonous snake in their midst.
Turkey faces increasing sanctions and isolation. Biden will be much tougher on Erdogan.
That’s good. The dog and bum deserved that.
Biden is a gimp:
Frankly, like the arch geriatric Jew Kissinger once commented after the US back-stabbed the Shah of Iran and even refused to let him enter the country for cancer treatment, “FRIENDSHIP WITH AMERICA IS A KISS OF DEATH”. Erdogan has finally been mortally kissed by the US and Turkey faces a very uncertain future.
70 iq for that comment,nuff said! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e547e31d47cef50774d84f8a7eb0b16b1fc7f7f14d357b4dee0930b4fdae2fb3.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7397838a39adcb2028e218ed681e0397745bcaedcfd59d75434d12ebea342b0e.jpg
Iran needs to rely in the future,not covert masonic/nazi regimes of the goyms whom got it in for peace,where was iran when isis began to decimate syria,where was hezbolla,chech out lebanon,that’s what you get for entrusting the covert masonic regime of genocides,where was iran too busy helping the turds save bushes ass for the sake of 911 justice? Don’t insult intellects gimps,either way you won’t get your fekn war,insolent loser bums!
Wisen the fk up,take heed or die from ignorance or stupidity,whichever comes first(period)
Goat cheese to China? Ohh wait……I forgot the troubles with tomatoes and Russia.
They need to run into China’s arms ASAP.
Well, we know all our “friends” only lick our boots to get our dollares, so why should we feel different about them?
Saise who the bloomberg p00f,who assumes us military runs all sovereign economys,don’t insult intellects ok,truth is turkey signed defense pact with ukraine which blots out usas cia/farkfurt monopoly,yet times running out for trump if he is as patriotic for the peoples instead of the useless loudmouth barking mouthpiece of cias/military/sales ops team time will see,either way one way or the other if you think your smarter than god,guess what? Satan calls your bluff,Putin and erdogan will trade on regardless,in the end the deep state allready lost,why the insolent kweers state opposite!
“RUSSIA FURIOUS AFTER TRUMP SANCTIONS ERDOGAN” Title like that is total exaggeration. It is in Russian interest that Turkey is pushed out of NATO. So why would Russia be “furious”?. It is even in Turk interest to cut short this very prolonged slow distancing from the West since US – Turk and EU-Turk interest does not converge at all on many levels.
Iran has also strongly condemned US sanctions against Turkiye in relation to the purchase of S-400 defence missiles from Russia. https://sputniknews.com/world/202012151081462278-zarif-blasts-us-sanctions-against-turkey-over-s-400-purchase-as-contempt-for-international-law/
Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Israel summons Russian envoy over remarks Russian-Israeli relations have begun to exhibit worrying symptoms, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports. Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov gave an interview to the Jerusalem Post, which sparked a diplomatic scandal and forced the embassy to provide an explanation. In his interview, the ambassador harshly criticized Israel. “The problem in the region is not Iranian activities,” Viktorov told the Jerusalem Post. “It’s a lack of understanding between countries and noncompliance with UN resolutions in the Israel-Arab and Israel-Palestinian conflict.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned Viktorov to receive an explanation of his statements. The Russian Embassy in Israel stated that “this is the case when media representatives add their own connotations to the interview.” However, the article shows that Viktorov did say some harsh statements. Despite the embassy’s explanations, the publication of such an article in the Jerusalem Post points to a change in Russian-Israeli relations, Nezavisimaya Gazeta stated. The looming presidency of Joe Biden is likely to lead to Russia and the US having more or less similar stances on the nuclear program of Israel’s main regional adversary: Iran. Biden is considered a supporter of the US return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear deal, which Russia has defended amid incumbent US President Donald Trump’s policy “of maximum pressure” on Iran. FULL ARTICLE – TASS : https://tass.com/pressreview/1233879
Russian MOD is fed up with Israel, so far Putin is tempering their efforts for Russian forces to respond to Israeli attacks more vigorously.
Once diplomacy and politics gets involved in conflict , military regularly receives kick in the balls. For various “tactical” reasons that doesn’t usually recognize military logic. It is always like that when politics and ware are mixed up. Russia must understand that “You can’t have your cake and eat it”. They can’t have it both ways all the time. Because too much tactics, is bad tactic.
If Russia wants to win Turkey over to its side, then Putin must act immediately and wisely. It is now or never. This sanctions will create a major rift between the U.S and Turkey and will probably lead to more confrontation. Erdogan’s statement about him and Biden knowing each other signals that Turkey won’t bow. There’s bound to be more friction ahead.
What is complicating Russia/Turkey relations? The answer is simple: Russia’s policy towards the Sunni Muslim world.
Russia supports pro-Western anti-Sunni forces in many places around the world. Russia is in bed with El-Sisi of Egypt, Haftar of Libya, MBZ of U.A.E, Assad of Syria, and a few others. In all these countries (Egypt, Libya, U.A.E, and Syria), There is no free democracy, thanks to the use of brute force by the dictators there. Russia helps keep these dictators in power by supplying arms and sometimes intervening overtly and militarily, like in Libay and Syria. It is pretty clear for any unbiased mind to see that the only way to prove that the people love these dictators is through a nationwide FREE AND FAIR election. It’s also very clear that these dictators are doing everything in their power to prevent any kind of free democracy, because they are not confident of winning at the ballot.
But Russia’s support for these dictators is a big mistake for three reasons: 1). Except for Syria, all the other countries and their leaders are America’s stooges. Which means there is a limit to how far they can cooperate with Russia and any cooperation is subject to America’s approval. El-sisi, Haftar, and MBZ cannot defy Washington to please Moscow, but they will stab Russia in the back to please America should America ever request it. It only means the current relationship Russia enjoys with these dictators is temporary.
2). Current Turkish leaders are STRONGLY pro-Sunni. The Muslim Brotherhood has very strong influence in Turkey and the Muslim world. That means Turkey is unlikely to compromise on Syria, Libya, and Qatar. Turkey is led by leaders who seek a revival and strengthening of the Sunni Muslim world. That can only happen if America’s puppet leaders are removed from power. Actually, I think there is a smarter way for Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood to achieve this goal without having to overthrow these puppets. I’ll explain how. But since Russia strongly supports these dictators and won’t allow democracy in the aforementioned countries, relations with Turkey will continue to deteriorate even if Turkey breaks with the U.S and NATO. This will certainly complicate Russia’s objectives in Syria.
3). There is always the chance that the Sunni Muslims would finally get rid of these dictators. Should this happen, Russia would find itself considered an adversary by the resulting government at a time when Russia is under economic assault and needs all the allies it can get.
SO WHY DOES THE U.S TURN A BLIND EYE TO RUSSIA’S RELATIONS WITH EL-SISI, HAFTAR, AND MBZ, BUT NOT ASSAD? Don’t forget that Egypt and Haftar bought lots of war machines from Russia just recently but the U.S never invoked CAATSA.
Well, the answer is that Russia is doing America’s dirty job for free, and probably without knowing it. Aside from Assad, all the other dictators cannot defy Washington. But because America has an interest to suppress the genuine Sunni populations who make up a majority in these countries with the aim of preventing democracy, it lets Russia do the job free of charge so that Muslim anger is directed at Russia while America benefits from both situations; thus, Muslims hating Russia and Russia helping dictators (who are loyal only to America) suppress the Muslims in these countries (Note: Russia has labelled the MB terrorist but the U.S has not). Anytime America wishes to sever ties between Moscow and these dictators, it only has to threaten sanctions, a coup, or color revolution for these stooges to dump Russia instantly.
SO WHAT DO I SUGGEST RUSSIA DO? Russia must improve relations with Turkey. It can only do this through revisiting its policies towards the Sunni Muslim world. Russia should work with Turkey in promoting true democracies in these countries and it’ll surely reap the benefits when the majority wins. NATO is also becoming more and more provocative and therefore dangerous. Russia allying with Turkey will certainly complicate NATO’s plans against Russia.
I have a genuine question to ask people familiar with Russia’s policies around the world. I do hope to get sincere answers not insults.
Why does Russia not see this situation the way I see it? Why does Russia not realize that these dictators, apart from Assad, are Russia’s enemies because so is their master? Does Russia consider Turkey a greater threat than NATO and its middle eastern puppets? Hopefully, I’ll get some good answers to these nagging questions. I’ve thought about them but couldn’t figure out why Russia acts this way. Maybe someone on SF understands. Thanks in advance.
inter-subjective consistently wrong
Yeah, so I want to know your viewpoint. Where exactly did I go wrong and why? Present some alternative.
Russia is not interested in any ideology defining its power, Russia will do what is best for her, they remember the past well, they don’t need Sunnis, and Turkey is on the outs with Russia.
Well, Russia cannot do without Sunni Muslims. There are over 20 million Sunnis in Russia who are not migrants but ethnic Russians. With the West battering Russia’s economy and encircling it with NATO, Russia will have to look for new allies. The current Russia-led military alliance known as CSTO comprises a majority Sunni countries. With the exception of Iran, Russia’s middle eastern partners are majority Sunnis. You are disconnected from reality thinking Russia does not need help. The U.S.A will continue to weaken Russia until it implodes and breaks up into statelets.
My question in the previous comment had nothing to do with ideology. It was pure geopolitics. Your blind abnormal hatred of Islam is what clouded your understanding of my question. But know that millions before you have hated and tried to destroy Islam but it’ll continue to prosper just like you witness today, long after you are dead and forgotten.
tammy, voxy, Jenny, bacon, etc: how many CIA aliases do they have under the harris military dictatorship and new Vice President—dominion voting machine, Biden given hairspray and cheerleader visits in basement …his astrologer predicts free viagra. USA incoherence and stupidity expected