US officials, especially at Congress, reaffirmed that upcoming weeks will be decisive for the future of ties between Washington and Ankara as the latter grows closer to Russia.
As Congress returns from recess, all eyes are on the list of decisions it will take against Turkey obtaining the Russia-made S-400 missile systems. The arms purchase has placed Ankara right under the threat of being sanctioned under the US’ Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
CAATSA calls for sanctioning any enemy state which purchases arms from Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Many members of Congress have called on President Donald Trump's administration to take firmer steps toward rising tensions with Turkey against the backdrop of Ankara's continued threats to invade the eastern Euphrates region in Syria.
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has asked Trump, in a tweet, to put sanctions against Ankara over the deal to buy the Russian air-defense system, the S-400.
The Trump administration remains silent or at least practicing patience on the issuing of sanctions against Turkey, although it has suspended the delivery of F-35 fighter jets and halted its pilot training and production program in response to Ankara going for the Russian missile system.
Sources close to the matter reported that the United States is seriously thinking about canceling the handover of three F-35 jets legally owned by Turkey and which are kept at an American base.
This could lead to legal repercussions between the NATO allies, because it would mean that Washington is willing to seize foreign military assets that are cleared from decisions or laws prohibiting dealing with or handing them over.
With that being said, it is the US’ duty to deliver these planes—this is reminiscent of the bold statements made by Turkish officials, who said removing Turkey from the F-35 program was impossible.
