The US has long threatened Turkey with economic measures over its purchase of Russian air defence systems, demanding Ankara ditch them. Turkey, however, has vehemently refused to do so, calling the purchase its sovereign right to improve the country's defences. Washington so far has failed to make good on its threats.
The US might soon impose economic sanctions on Turkey for its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence systems after threatening to do so under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for over a year, Reuters and The Wall Street Journal separately reported citing anonymous sources. The measures are expected to be announced on 11 December, Reuters' sources claimed.
According to Reuters' report, the sanctions will target Turkey's Presidency of Defence Industries and its chief, Ismail Demir, instead of hurting the country's economy on a larger scale. The sanctions have already reportedly been included in the US Defence Authorisation Bill – a crucial annual piece of legislation expected to be approved in the near future – but will ultimately be imposed on US President Donald Trump's orders.
The reported upcoming sanctions are unlikely to have any positive effect on the US-Turkish relations, an anonymous senior Turkish official told Reuters. On the contrary, the sanctions are bound to backfire and spoil relations between the two NATO allies.
It is unclear how much the sanctions will affect US foreign…
