World

Mnuchin considering US sanctions over Turkey's S-400 purchase

September 09, 2019
US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington on Monday. — Reuters
US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington on Monday. — Reuters

WASHINGTON — US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday that the Trump administration was considering imposing sanctions on related to Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense missile system, but no decisions have been made.

"We're looking at that, I'm not going to make any comments on any specific decisions, but we are looking at it," Mnuchin told reporters outside the White House when asked if the Treasury was considering such sanctions. He did not specify any potential targets.

Turkey's dollar-denominated sovereign bonds fell after Mnuchin's comments.

Ankara and Washington have been at loggerheads over Turkey's purchase of the S-400 system, which the United States says is not compatible with NATO defenses and poses a threat to Lockheed Martin's F-35 'stealth' fighter jet.

Russia delivered a second battery of S-400s last month, according to Interfax news agency, which cited Russian Vladimir Putin. Ankara had received its first shipment in July.

Washington has previously warned Turkey that it will face sanctions over the purchase and removed the country from its f-35 program, but Ankara has so far dismissed the warnings.

The dispute over the air defense missile system is one of several issues straining ties between the United States and Turkey that include the ongoing conflict in Syria, among others. — Reuters


September 09, 2019
90 views
HIGHLIGHTS
World
12 hours ago

Australian Senate approves social media ban on under-16s

World
12 hours ago

Daniel Khalife found guilty of spying for Iran

World
14 hours ago

Explosions and power outages all over Ukraine after Russia’s mass missile attack