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The Grand Turk
US sanctions NATO ally Turkey over Russian missile defense
2020-12-15
[Al Ahram] The Trump administration on Monday imposed sanctions on its NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
ally The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the decaying remnant of the Ottoman Empire...
over its purchase of a Russian air defense system, in a striking move against a longtime partner that sets the stage for further confrontation between the two nations as President-elect Joe Foreign Policy Whiz Kid Biden
...Candidate for president in 2020. I'm not working for you. Don't be such a horse's ass....
prepares to take office.

The extraordinary step against a treaty ally comes at a delicate time in relations between Washington and Ankara, which have been at odds for years over Turkey's acquisition from Russia of the S-400 missile defense system, along with Ottoman Turkish actions in Syria, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in the eastern Mediterranean.

The sanctions, which were required under US law dating to 2017 if the administration deemed there to be violations, add another element of uncertainty to the relationship as Trump winds down his term.

The move is the first time that law, known as CAATSA, has been used to penalize a US ally.

Prior to Monday, the US had kicked Turkey out of its F-35 stealth fighter development and training program over the S-400 purchase, but had taken no further steps despite persistent warnings from American officials who have long complained about that the system is incompatible with NATO equipment and a potential threat to allied security.

Posted by:Fred

#1  I hope Incirlik has been emptied. Get our people out
Posted by: Frank G   2020-12-15 06:38  

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