Turkish President Urges US to Lift ⁣Sanctions on​ Defense⁢ Equipment Purchases

Turkish President⁢ Recep Tayyip Erdogan ​has called on the United States to lift sanctions that ‌are hindering‌ his ‍country’s ability to⁢ purchase defense ‍equipment and supplies.

During a⁣ meeting with American and Turkish business leaders‍ in New York, Erdogan emphasized the need to remove sanctions and unilateral measures that are impeding the​ achievement of‍ bilateral trade goals between the two countries.

The Turkish President highlighted the ⁣challenge of reaching the goal of ‍increasing trade volume from ⁣$30⁣ billion to $100 billion in the long term, citing the obstacles posed by sanctions.

Erdogan specifically mentioned the ⁤US Countering Adversaries Act‍ (CAATSA) and urged the US to lift ⁤its “unilateral⁤ application” ​of additional ​tariffs on steel and aluminum.

He also⁣ expressed his hope for the permanent lifting of​ export⁣ restrictions for ⁤projects such​ as ​the F-16 fighter jet modernization.

The US and Turkey have​ had strained relations in ⁢recent years due to their differing positions on the Gaza Strip and Syria, as well as Turkey’s purchase of ⁢Russian-made S-400 air⁣ defense systems.

However, there are signs of a thaw ‍in relations, with Turkey requesting ⁣the purchase of $20 billion worth of F-16 fighter jets and upgrade equipment ⁢in October 2021, and ​the US announcing its intention to ⁤proceed ‌with such sales to Turkey in July last year.

Source: Reuters