US Treasury sanctions 5 Turkish firms over Russia ties

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Sep 2023 13:46

The US sanctions will target companies based in Finland, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey hoping to disrupt technology supply chains.

US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen delivers an address during the second annual Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) Conference at the Treasury Department, Washington D.C., United States, on September 14, 2023. (AFP)

The US Treasury and the State Department have imposed sanctions on five Turkish corporations and one Turkish national, alleging their involvement in aiding Russia in bypassing unilateral US sanctions.

The shipping firms in question have been accused by the Biden administration of servicing vessels linked to Russia's Ministry of Defense and transporting Russian dual-use equipment, such as drones and sensors.

These sanctions are part of a broader package aimed at undermining Moscow's economy, energy, and military sectors, encompassing over 150 targets, including entities in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Georgia. The package is one of the most extensive sanctions packages in the history of the US State and Treasury departments.

By sanctioning major Turkish companies for alleged collaboration with Russia, the United States further strains its already complicated relationship with Ankara.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has navigated a delicate balance between the United States, its Western NATO allies, and Russia, a challenge that has intensified since Russia launched its Special military Operation in Ukraine. While Turkey has provided military support to Ukraine, it has also maintained trade and diplomatic ties with Moscow.

The new sanctions package aims to disrupt supply chains that go into Russia's defense industry. They have even targeted Finland-based Siberica and Luminor as well as the former's owner Gabriel Temin for selling electornics to Russians.

Turkey pressured to take anti-Russia stance

On Thursday, Ankara slammed the European Parliament's insistence on Turkey's collaboration in imposing sanctions against Russia as Turkey and the European Union embarked on a new endeavor to restart the country's stalled membership negotiations, Bloomberg reported.

The news website indicated that the European Union and the United States are putting pressure on Turkey to join the sanctions campaign against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

While committing to enforceable United Nations sanctions, Turkey is refusing to participate in any additional sanctions activities for fear of complicating its mediation efforts between Kiev and Moscow.

Last weekend, at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on leaders to satisfy some of Russia's requests to resurrect the Black Sea agreement, which permitted Ukrainian grain supplies and reduced global food costs. However, the US and its allies have rebuffed his proposal to remove sanctions and today's events have shown more clearly the US's approach to the war in Ukraine.