The US Congress has halted the supply of American weapons and military equipment to Turkey. The news was confirmed by US Assistant Secretary of State for Military and Political Affairs Clarke Cooper during a briefing on Friday, December 4.

"Yes, the Congress is stopping arms sales to Turkey," the US State Department spokesman said. Cooper did not comment further on the matter.

In August 2020, the American Defense News weekly reported that the US legislature has been blocking all major deals in the sale of American weapons and military equipment to Turkey for almost two years, in Washington. The members of the Congress took this step, trying to put additional pressure on Turkey to force it to refuse to buy S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia (3PC).

Russia and Turkey signed an agreement in 2017 for Moscow to supply C-400 systems to Ankara. Turkey is the first NATO country to acquire these systems from Russia. Ankara's decision received a very negative response from the United States and other NATO member states. The United States hasn’t stopped attempts to get Turkey to abandon its plan to purchase Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. Due to the fact that Turkey hasn’t responded to the pressure and isn’t refusing to buy the C-400 systems, Washington has removed Ankara from the US program to produce US F-35 fighter jets.

In addition, the United States threatens to impose unilateral sanctions on Turkey, but is in no hurry to do so, as it avoids further straining relations with a key NATO ally, and given that Ankara warns that such sanctions will not go unanswered.

Top photo: Clarke Cooper