U.S. redoubles sanctions threat against Turkey
22 June, 2019
The U.S. government on Thursday said economic sanctions over Turkey’s planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system remained a “very viable” option, even as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to retaliate if that occurred.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper told reporters on a teleconference that the United States and other NATO allies remained in discussions with Turkey about resolving the dispute.
“Seeking resolution is still within the realm of possible today, but imposition of sanctions remains a course of action and a very viable one at this point,” Cooper said during a visit to Brussels, where the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is headquartered.
In Istanbul, Erdogan, speaking at a rare news conference for foreign media, repeated that the purchase of Russian S-400 systems was a done deal and said the United States should think carefully before imposing sanctions on a NATO member.
“I do not see any possibility of these sanctions happening,” Erdogan said. However, if they did, “we will have sanctions of our own.”
Washington has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions unless Ankara backs down from the S-400 purchase. Erdogan said the delivery of the system would start in the first half of July.
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