US adopts sanctions on Turkey

The US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee adopted legislation on imposing sanctions on Turkey, following its offensive in northern Syria and buying an S-400 missile system from Russia.

This is estimated to be the decisive move, which could push US President Donald Trump to take a tougher stand against Ankara.

“Now is the time for the Senate to assemble and use this opportunity to change Turkey's” behavior, said Senator Jim Rich, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Another Republican, Senator Rand Paul, took a stand against the bill. He said the Trump administration has rejected this move because it would weaken the power of the president (Trump) and make negotiating difficult with Turkey's president, Recep Tayip Erdogan.

Many American lawmakers ʹ Republicans and Democrats are angry with Turkey because of the purchase of the Russian system S-400, which they see as a threat to NATO systems.

They are also angry about Turkey's offensive against Kurdish fighters in Syria, who were recently fighting together with American forces against the Islamic State militants.

Turkey has said the vote in the Senate does not prevent it from using the Russian missile defence system.