US threatens Turkey with sanctions over close connection with Russia
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – US has warned fellow NATO member Turkey of imposing sanctions over its growing ties with Russia.
The Turkish Industry and Business Association (Tusiad), Turkey’s leading business association, said on Tuesday that it had received a letter from US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, threatening of possible sanctions if Turkish companies cooperate with sanctioned Russian entities and individuals.
On August 5, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met in the Russian coastal city of Sochi to discuss regional and international issues, most notably Syria and Ukraine, as well as bolstering their economic ties.
Also in Tehran summit on July 19, Putin and Erdogan met with their Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi to touch upon the situation in Syrian, and discuss developing their economic partnership.
Tusiad added that it had shared the letter with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Trade.
“Any individuals or entities providing material support to US-designated persons are themselves at risk of US sanctions,” Adeyemo wrote in his letter, as its contents were first reported by The Wall Street Journal this week.
“Turkish banks cannot expect to establish corresponding relationships with sanctioned Russian banks and retain their corresponding relationships with major global banks as well as access to the US dollar and other major currencies,” he added.