US: Immediate sanctions against Turkey over S-400

Sanctions against Turkey regarding the delivery of the Russian missile system to the S-400, as provided for in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). According to this provision, the acquisition of the weapons system in question constitutes a «significant transaction» (as defined in the CAATSA Act). Consequently, it calls for the provisions of the CAATSA Act (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) to be enforced. America (Through Sanctions) and that at least five sanctions be imposed within 30 days of its signing.

«The Turkish government's acquisition of the S-400 air defense system from the Russian Federation which begins on July 12, 2019, constitutes a ‘significant transaction’ as described in Section 231 of the CAATSA Act…No later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act (the 2021 defense budget), the President must impose five or more of the sanctions described in Section 235 of the CAATSA Act with respect to any person who knowingly engaged in the acquisition of the,» the report specifically states.

The bill provides that, after one year has elapsed, the president may rescind the sanctions, provided that he certifies to the relevant congressional committees that:

– The Government of Turkey and any person acting on its behalf no longer possesses the S-400 air defense system or any system that has replaced it.

– No official of the Russian Federation or any person acting on behalf of the government of the Russian Federation or the defense sector of the Russian Federation operates or maintain within Turkey any S-400 air defense system or any system that has succeeded it.

– The president received credible assurances from the Turkish government that it would not knowingly engage in, nor allow any foreign party to participate on its behalf in, any activities aimed at reacquiring the S-400 air defense system, which is subject to sanctions under Section 231 of the CAATSA Act.

For his part, the senator Robert Menendez expressed his satisfaction, saying «I am incredibly proud to have helped ensure the inclusion of a provision in the defense budget (NDAA) to achieve what the President Trump refused to do: officially determines on behalf of the government of the USA »that Turkey has received Russian S-400 defense systems and will therefore be punished under current law.".