Washington, August 07, 2024, The Europe Today: The United States has issued a stern warning to Türkiye regarding the continued sale of American civilian products with potential military applications to Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. A high-ranking official from the US Commerce Department conveyed these concerns to the Financial Times on Wednesday.
Washington is increasingly alarmed by reports that Türkiye, a NATO ally, has become a critical conduit for Western-made electronics, such as processors, memory cards, and amplifiers, reaching Russia. These components are allegedly being used in the production of missiles and drones, according to the Financial Times.
An unnamed Commerce Department official indicated that the US views Ankara, which has abstained from joining Western sanctions against Moscow, as Russia’s second-largest source of American dual-use goods, following China.
Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Bureau of Industry and Security, Matthew Axelrod, emphasized the need for Türkiye’s cooperation. “Türkiye must help Washington stop the flow of US technology to Moscow,” he stated to the Financial Times. “We need to see progress, and quickly, by Turkish authorities and industry or we will have no choice but to impose consequences on those that evade our export controls,” Axelrod warned.
During a recent visit to Ankara and Istanbul, Axelrod urged Turkish officials to intensify efforts to curb what he termed “illicit trade” with Russia. He underscored the urgency of the issue, calling on Türkiye to “adopt and enforce a ban on the transshipment of US-controlled items to Russia.” According to the official, Axelrod highlighted that Moscow was exploiting Türkiye’s trade policy to access American-made products.
The US Commerce Department has already listed 18 Turkish companies on its ‘Entities List’ for allegedly supplying dual-use goods to Russia. As a result, US firms now require special licenses to sell sensitive items to these entities. “You can expect to see more of that, going forward, unless and until there is progress,” the official added.
In response, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the “unprecedented pressure” being exerted on Türkiye by the US and its allies over its cooperation with Russia. He criticized the tactics used, stating, “Representatives of the West come to Ankara, they gather officials and business leaders and blatantly threaten them… This is absolutely shameless behavior.”
As tensions escalate, the US continues to monitor Türkiye’s actions closely, with potential repercussions looming should Ankara fail to align with Washington’s demands regarding the export of dual-use goods.
