Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the removal of US sanctions hindering Turkey’s defence procurement and other unilateral measures, which he says are impeding the achievement of long-term bilateral trade goals between the NATO allies.
Speaking at the 15th Turkish Investment Conference in New York, Erdogan highlighted that cooperation in the defence industry had “lagged far behind” its potential due to American restrictions.
He expressed hope for a “new chapter” following the F-16 modernisation programme, urging for the permanent lifting of export barriers in this sector.
Erdogan cited the production of 155mm ammunition by a Turkish company in Texas, exported to Ukraine, as an example of successful US-Turkey cooperation.
He called on the American business community to play a more active role in advancing existing programmes and fostering new partnerships.
The Turkish President also advocated for abandoning unilateral practices such as additional tariffs on iron, steel, and aluminium, as well as sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
US-Turkey relations have been strained in recent years due to disagreements over Kurdish issues, Syria, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Gaza.
Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defence systems led to American sanctions and Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet programme in 2019.
Despite these challenges, both countries aim to increase bilateral trade from around $30 billion in 2023 to $100 billion in the long term.
Erdogan emphasised Turkey’s economic potential, noting it is one of only five countries worldwide with a population of 85 million and a per capita income exceeding $13,000.
The Turkish leader’s comments come after a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, amid Turkey’s interest in the Eurofighter Typhoon, which faces opposition from Berlin.
(information from amna.gr)
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