Trump Administration Reported to be Preparing Sanctions Against Turkey

US President Donald Trump and his administration are examining three main scenarios of sanctions against Turkey, which will be implemented as soon as Ankara receives the Russian S-400 missile system later in July, it was reported on Wednesday.

Bloomberg quoted sources inside the country’s National Security Council and the State and Treasury departments who are reportedly preparing an array of sanctions. The sources indicate that any of these three groups of sanctions under consideration will be additional to the annulment of Turkey’s purchase of F-35 fighter jets, which has already been decided upon.

All these developments come as Turkey appears to be determined to go ahead with its decision to obtain the Russian-made missile system, an act which brings the country into direct opposition with both NATO and US laws and regulations.

Officials inside the Trump Administration are reportedly ready to bring into play the stipulations of the so-called CAATSA, the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.”

This enables the American government to impose a series of sanctions upon entities and individuals who are proven to pose a threat to America’s national security, and Ankara’s decision to buy Russian missiles is considered as such.

Experts believe than if any of the three main packages of sanctions is implemented, the already-troubled Turkish economy will suffer, and may even collapse.

Both parties in the US Congress have already pushed President Trump to adopt a much stronger stance against Turkey, mainly due to the S-400 missile system but also because of Ankara’s stance on the issue of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

There are reports suggesting that on a personal level, President Trump and President Erdogan have a common understanding of each other, but Trump has publicly said in the past that he will not hesitate to punish Turkey if Ankara continues to favor Moscow.