Sanctions against Turkey: US is one step away from departure from Incirlik base
There is more and more disagreement between the United States and one of its NATO partners, Turkey. Besides that Washington is sharply dissatisfied with Ankara's plans to purchase S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, there was one more reason for scandal.
The United States imposed personal sanctions against two members of the Turkish government - Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleiman Soilu. They are accused of serious human rights violations. Now, according to the decision of the US Treasury Department, their property and property rights in American jurisdiction are frozen, and US citizens are prohibited from having any common business with them.
It should be noted that for many decades Washington was not too worried about violations of elementary democratic norms in Turkey (which really have a place to be - at least with respect to the Kurdish population). However, now the American authorities are expressing concern. The reason for the sanctions was the fate of the American pastor Andrew Branson, who was arrested by the Turkish authorities in October 2016. He is accused of espionage and collaboration with the FETO organization, which is led by another preacher, Fethullah Gulen.
As you know, in July 2016, an attempted coup d'etat occurred in Turkey, when the head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan resisted only by a miracle. The Turkish authorities accuse Gulen of organizing the putsch, but he is currently in the United States. Ankara would like to return Branson to Washington in exchange for the extradition of Gulen. But while the American pastor remains in prison, Washington is sharply dissatisfied.
US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said:
Ankara claims that sanctions against the two Turkish ministers will be answered. This was stated in a blog on Twitter by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. He stressed that it is impossible to solve any problems between the countries if the American administration does not understand that it is impossible to achieve their goals by such methods. The US called the demands of the US to release the pastor illegal.
What could be Ankara’s specific response to Washington’s pressure? One of the American experts, Nicholas Danforth, is a senior analyst at the Bipartisan Center. policy in Washington, expressed concerns about continued US military access to the Incirlik base.
- the analyst predicted.
He also called on the US authorities to seriously rethink their regional policy - "from Iraq to the Balkans."
The United States imposed personal sanctions against two members of the Turkish government - Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleiman Soilu. They are accused of serious human rights violations. Now, according to the decision of the US Treasury Department, their property and property rights in American jurisdiction are frozen, and US citizens are prohibited from having any common business with them.
It should be noted that for many decades Washington was not too worried about violations of elementary democratic norms in Turkey (which really have a place to be - at least with respect to the Kurdish population). However, now the American authorities are expressing concern. The reason for the sanctions was the fate of the American pastor Andrew Branson, who was arrested by the Turkish authorities in October 2016. He is accused of espionage and collaboration with the FETO organization, which is led by another preacher, Fethullah Gulen.
As you know, in July 2016, an attempted coup d'etat occurred in Turkey, when the head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan resisted only by a miracle. The Turkish authorities accuse Gulen of organizing the putsch, but he is currently in the United States. Ankara would like to return Branson to Washington in exchange for the extradition of Gulen. But while the American pastor remains in prison, Washington is sharply dissatisfied.
US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said:
The unfair detention of Pastor Brunson and the ongoing prosecution of him by the Turkish authorities is simply unacceptable. President Trump makes it very clear that the United States expects immediate release from Turkey
Ankara claims that sanctions against the two Turkish ministers will be answered. This was stated in a blog on Twitter by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. He stressed that it is impossible to solve any problems between the countries if the American administration does not understand that it is impossible to achieve their goals by such methods. The US called the demands of the US to release the pastor illegal.
What could be Ankara’s specific response to Washington’s pressure? One of the American experts, Nicholas Danforth, is a senior analyst at the Bipartisan Center. policy in Washington, expressed concerns about continued US military access to the Incirlik base.
After the aggravation of relations between the USA and Turkey, it is necessary to prepare for the fact that the Turkish authorities will close the Incirlik base for us
- the analyst predicted.
He also called on the US authorities to seriously rethink their regional policy - "from Iraq to the Balkans."
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