Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made a big disclosure about US President Donald Trump. He said that he believes that the United States' CAATSA sanctions on Turkey's defense sector will soon be "lifted" due to US President Donald Trump's "more open, more constructive" approach. Asked by reporters on his return flight from Albania about the recent US approval for a possible sale of missiles to Turkey, Erdogan said he could "easily say that CAATSA is being relaxed", referring to the 'Act of Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions'.
Erdogan calls Trump a friend
Erdogan said he has discussed the matter with Trump and Washington's new ambassador to Ankara. "With my friend Trump taking office, we have reached a more open, more constructive, more honest communication," he said, according to transcripts of his remarks in flight.
Why did the US impose sanctions on Turkey
The US imposed CAATSA sanctions on Turkey in 2020 for buying the S-400 missile defense system from Russia despite being a NATO member. However, Turkey never used the S-400 missile system and it still has it in an inactive state. The US also kicked Turkey out of the F-35 program for buying the S-400.
What is the CAATSA ban?
The full name of the CAATSA is Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. The US has made it as a punitive act to oppose its rivals. This law was first enacted on 2 August 2017. After which it was implemented in January 2018. The purpose of this law is to counter the aggression of America's enemy countries Iran, Russia and North Korea.
On which countries can the US impose sanctions?
The CAATSA Act gives the US President the power to impose at least 5 out of 12 sanctions on individuals and countries associated with military and intelligence sectors from these countries. The US President can impose export restrictions on the concerned country. Due to this, that country may have to face US defense and trade related sanctions. Not only this, America can stop the export of nuclear related items to such countries.
