Erdogan says U.S. sanctions an attack on Turkey s rights Reuters 16/12/2020
ANKARA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that U.S. sanctions imposed on Turkey over its purchase of Russian defence systems were an attack on Ankara s sovereign rights aimed at deterring its defence industry, a move which he said was bound to fail.
On Monday, Washington imposed the sanctions targeting NATO member Turkey s Defence Industry Directorate (SSB), its chief Ismail Demir and three other employees over its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defence systems.
In his first public comments on the move, Erdogan said that problems stemming from the sanctions would be overcome and vowed to ramp up efforts towards an independent defence industry, while criticising Washington for sanctioning a NATO ally.
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US sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian missiles led to near unified messages of regret, defiance and condemnation from both government and opposition figures in Ankara on Tuesday.
The previous evening, Washington carried out a long-standing threat to impose penalties for Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400 air defence system.
Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was the most senior government member to criticise the decision by US President Donald Trump after Congress had passed a bill demanding sanctions.
“This sanctions decision has shaken all the values in our countries’ alliance,” he told the state-run Anadolu news agency. “Obviously, sanctions on a Nato member country will not only undermine the spirit of alliance but will deeply undermine trust among allies.”