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us-sanctions 11 October 2019

US senators unveil Turkey sanctions proposal

‘Most Members of Congress believe it would be wrong to abandon the Kurds.’

As refugees flee northern Syria in advance of Turkish military operations in Kurdish areas and recriminations mount over what has been described as US President Donald Trump’s ‘betrayal’ of Kurdish allies in the fight against the ‘So-called Islamic State’, US senators Lindsey Graham (Republican) and Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) have unveiled proposals for sanctions against Turkey, with Graham tweeting that it was ‘Very sad to see great ally – the Kurds – being assaulted by Turkish-Erdogan military using American-designed equipment.’

President Trump has tweeted that he would ‘obliterate’ the Turkish economy if its use of force was excessive.

Thus far, the senators have released a structural framework for the sanctions, the preamble of which proposes that they should come into effect ‘unless the Administration certifies to Congress – every 90 days – that Turkey is not operating unilaterally (without U.S. support east of the Euphrates and west of the Iraqi border) in Syria and has withdrawn its armed forces, including Turkish supported rebels, from areas it occupied during the operation beginning on October 09, 2019.’

The sanctions it proposes include freezing the assets of the Turkish president, vice-president, and several ministers, sanctions against the military sector, against the energy sector, and a prohibition on military assistance.

In a statement, Senator Graham said, ‘I am pleased to have reached a bipartisan agreement with Senator Van Hollen on severe sanctions against Turkey for their invasion of Syria. While the Administration refuses to act against Turkey, I expect strong bipartisan support. Most Members of Congress believe it would be wrong to abandon the Kurds who have been strong allies against ISIS.’

See:
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/10.09.19%20Turkish%20Sanctions.pdf