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Erdogan: US sanctions aim at keeping turkey dependent

Wednesday, 16 December 2020 8:59 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 16 December 2020 8:59 PM ]

Rahshan Saglam

Press TV, Istanbul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will no longer be affected dramatically by US sanctions. He also accused the US of imposing sanctions on Turkey to prevent it from becoming independent and developing its own defense sector.

Erdogan’s comments came after US imposed sanctions on Turkey's defense industries and its chief. Turkey has always criticized the US for its unilateral actions against other countries in the region such as Iran.

Washington had already punished Ankara in July by barring it from developing parts for and acquiring America's next-generation F-35 fighter jets. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned what he called U.S. addiction to sanctions and contempt for international law.

The sanctions cut off Turkey’s top defense procurement agency from U.S. financial institutions, military hardware and technology. Ties between the two NATO allies Turkey and the US were strained last year due to Ankara’s purchase of S-400 missiles from Russia, however Turkey says it had to resort to Moscow to meet its needs after its own ally stopped responding to its demands.

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