US warns sanctions against Turkey due to Russian missiles

The measures taken today make it clear that the United States will not tolerate large-scale transactions with Russia's defence and intelligence sector,”, the state secretary said in a statement.

He referred to a law adopted by Congress almost unanimously in 2017. Washington has imposed sanctions on the SSB and its president, Ismail Demir, as well as other leaders of the Turkish government agency.

Congress on Friday adopted a law to finance the Pentagon and a provision requiring the executive to sanction Ankara for the purchase of S-400, an incompatible missile with NATO systems whose membership is Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan said Friday that US sanctions on his country would represent “a lack of respect for the United States towards a key NATO ally”.

The UN has made it clear to Turkey that buying the S-4005 system poses a security threat to American military technology and personnel and brings huge funds to Russia's defence sector and access to Turkey's armed forces and defence industry,” said Pompeo.

He added that “Turkey, however, has decided to buy S-400, although there are alternatives compatible with the NATO system”.