US warns Türkiye of consequences for exporting military equipment to Russia
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
The US has warned Türkiye about the consequences of exporting military equipment to Russia. The American authorities demand an end to the supply of microchips and other components used in Russian military technology, according to the Financial Times
Matthew Axelrod, the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, leading these efforts, recently visited Ankara and Istanbul, where he met with Turkish officials and executives. His mission was to halt the illicit trade aimed at supplying American-origin technologies to Russia.
Axelrod expressed the concerns of the US, emphasizing that Türkiye needs to make greater efforts to stop the trade of microchips and other components that play a crucial role in Moscow's military operations in Ukraine. Washington is urging Ankara to tighten control and take measures to end these exports.
“We need Türkiye to help us stop the illicit flow of US technology to Russia. We need to see progress, and quickly, by Turkish authorities and industry or we will have no choice but to impose consequences on those that evade our export controls,” Axelrod stated.
Washington's warning is the latest indication of how Türkiye's decision to maintain strong trade ties with Russia has strained relations between the two NATO allies.
The US, EU, and other Western partners have imposed extensive sanctions on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, Türkiye has skirted these restrictions and increased trade with Russia since the war began.
The US is particularly concerned that Türkiye has become a key hub through which Western-manufactured electronics, including processors, memory cards, and amplifiers, are reaching Russian missiles and drones, violating export controls. Another critical area of concern is machine tools.
Sanctions against Russia
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Western countries have intensified their sanctions against Moscow. The European Union, for instance, has already imposed 14 packages of sanctions against Russia.
On June 12, the US announced new sanctions against more than 300 Russian individuals and entities.
Earlier, the UK imposed sanctions for the first time against ships of Russia's shadow fleet, which it believes is used to circumvent Western sanctions on Russian oil trade.
