Click to see full-size image
On December 4th, the US Congress included mandatory sanctions on Turkey in the 2021 Defense Budget for its purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defense system.
The final version of the $740bn annual US defense spending legislation would oblige the White House to select from a list of sanctions over the S-400s, which Washington says are incompatible with NATO operations.
US President Donald Trump who is in his last few weeks in office, vowed to veto the 4,517-page National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, over separate provisions.
He will still need support from Congress, as well as this would be the first veto of the sort in 6 decades.
The bill also includes authorization for the US military to use the six F-35 aircraft that had been accepted by Turkey before the country was expelled from the F-35 programme over the S-400 purchase.
The sanctions aren’t final or imposed at all, but the threat itself sent Turkish lira tumbling down.
Ankara, however, has cause for worry since President-elect Joe Biden is expected to be tougher on Turkey than Trump.
The defence bill includes sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which are designed in part to deter cooperation with Russia.
The US president would select from a list of mild to harsh possible sanctions.
Senate foreign relations committee ranking member Bob Menendez was among lawmakers praising the move.
“Incredibly proud to have helped secure inclusion of a provision in the NDAA to do what President Trump refused to do: Officially determine on behalf of the U.S. [government] that #Turkey took delivery of Russian S-400 defence systems and therefore will be sanctioned under existing law,” the Democrat said in a tweet.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used his final NATO meeting this week to sharply criticise Turkey, saying its purchase of the Russian weapons system was “a gift” to Moscow, five diplomats and officials told Reuters.
For months, the U.S. warned Ankara that it risked sanctions under CAATSA if the S-400 system were activated. Trump, however, has held back on implementing the sanctions amid hopes Erdogan will not go ahead with activating the missiles.
Just days prior to December 4th, prior to this vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey wouldn’t be sanctioned over the S-400.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in October, challenged the U.S. to impose sanctions over its involvement in the now-quiet conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
“We stepped in for the F-35, you threatened us,” Erdogan told a televised ruling party congress in the eastern city of Malatya. “You said, ‘Send the S-400s back to Russia.’ We are not a tribal state. We are Turkey.”
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
U.S. doesnt have allies only vassals… Like the Roman Empire did.
Hindus like You will be reborn as a worm in Your next life.
Projecting much Jens? Shouldnt you be at a local beheading in Kopenhagen…? Dont be late…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate LOL
Soros fake news. U.S. leads the suicide rates followed by the Ukraine and balticnazis.
Those numbers are reported by each country, including Russia.
According to whom? You are not aware of the level of fake news thats going around globallly.
Sure you are the expert, show me the true info about top suicide rates by country.
It doesnt take to be an expert to know most experts are fake and are lying to you…
Show me the real data then.
Who do you think I am?
A person with mental disabilities, what else?
I meant me not you…
I said disabilities, not abilities, so I meant you.
Too late…sorry. There is a time penalty ?
You replyed after me so time penalty is on you :)
Gaslighting aint working on me. Sorry… Try your magic wand ?
Ah.. you’re a victim of mental abuse but heroicaly fighting back. Proud if you, stable boy!
Thanks for your coming out… We are praying for you.
How many?
Me, myself, and Irene…
Irene, the stable boy. Very sexy name.
Don’t salivate just yet…
Ohh Irene, you are so cruel to me!
By the way even according to your link the U.S. and Ukraine has a higher suicide rare than does Russia.
Hahaha ok I will post it more often if you like it that much.
The US military aid to Egypt is about 1.3 billion $ annually. Does anyone in both House and Senate know that Egypt has purchased 20 Su-35s from Russia after CAATSA became law? Turkey gets “0” military aid, purchases S400 from own budget. Let’s punish Turkey..why? because Turkey is threat to their interests..
They punish attitudes not deeds :)
Well Turkey is part of NATO not Egypt.
Greece has s-300…
The S-400 is an insurance against another coup in Turkey. The coup in 2016 was planned by the Democrats and executed by Turkish air force. The problem with NATO air defense systems is that they don’t recognize any NATO planes (including those of Turkey and Greece) as foe. Hence, it would be easier for a group of rogue soldiers to bomb sensitive civilian government institutions, like the parliament. the 2016 coup was carried out in the same fashion. Most of the dead were due to attacks from the air on the parliament and the outskirts of Ankara.
The S-400 will not be integrated into the NATO defense infrastructure but will serve to defeat any future coup, thus, being able to identify threats from planes within Turkey or any other NATO country.
The Dems still haven’t given up on orchestrating a coup in Turkey. The Turks must keep the S-400 and even activate it separately to thwart any future coup attempt. Turkey should actually buy more S-400 to protect its government from U.S dogs in the military, particularly in the air force where they seem to be more and strongest.
Because you need better allies. The United States are supreme hypocrites.
US and EU pushing for sanction on Turkey, so most likely it gonna happen. “European Council head says nations must weigh sanctions in the face of Turkey’s ‘hostile’ behavior” https://www.rt.com/news/508663-european-council-turkey-debate-sanctions/
More theater. Does anyone believe that , after being sanctioned like this, Turkey will continue to stay in NATO ? But they will.