US warns Turkey over trade of military tech to Russia
The American government has issued a warning to the Turkish authorities, emphasising that Ankara will face "consequences" if it does not curb the export of equipment related to American military technology to Russia. This technology is crucial for the operation of the Russian armed forces.
The USA is demanding that the Turkish government take clear steps to limit the trade with Russia of goods that support the functioning of the Russian war machine, reports the Financial Times.
Matthew Axelrod, the Deputy Secretary of Commerce responsible for directing U.S. actions to keep sensitive technology away from potential enemies of the United States, met with Turkish officials and government representatives in Ankara and Istanbul.
The aim of these meetings was to encourage Turkey to take action to stop illegal trade. As quoted by the "FT," Axelrod stated that the message is clear—Turkey must make greater efforts to limit the trade of American-origin chips and other parts crucial for Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine.
"We need Turkey to help us stop the illegal flow of American technology to Russia," Axelrod said in a statement to the "Financial Times." "We need to see progress, and fast, from the Turkish government and industry, or we will have no choice but to impose sanctions on those who evade our export controls," he added.
Washington's warning directly reacts to Turkey's recent decision to maintain strong trade ties with Russia. This has strained relations between the two NATO allies.
The United States, the European Union, and other Western partners have imposed far-reaching sanctions on Russia since it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, since the outbreak of the war, Turkey has avoided restrictions and increased trade with Russia.
