USA's CAATSA Sanctions Are Being Applied to Türkiye and Efforts to Cancel It Continue
Quick Look
- Sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) have been in effect since April 7, 2021 due to Türkiye's purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Russia.
- US President Donald Trump attended the NATO Summit and said that sanctions could be lifted during his visit to Ankara, and stated that the work is continuing.
- US Ambassador Tom Barrack also emphasized that the process continues in Congress.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
CAATSA is a law passed by the US Congress in 2017 that includes secondary sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. Türkiye was included in this law by purchasing S-400 air defense systems from Russia in 2019, and sanctions have been imposed since April 7, 2021.
WHAT ARE CAATSA SANCTIONS?
Sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) came into force on April 7, 2021, against Turkey due to the purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Russia. The US Congress approved CAATSA in 2017.
US President Donald Trump, who came to Ankara for the NATO Summit held in Türkiye this year, said in his statement on the issue in Beştepe, "I can say that we can lift the sanctions. We are working very closely, it is time now. We do not want to impose sanctions on our friends." he said.
US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack also pointed out that the process necessary to lift sanctions on Türkiye continues in the US Congress.
WHAT ARE CAATSA ARTICLES?
These sanctions, also referred to as "secondary sanctions" in CAATSA, adopted by Congress on August 2, 2017, are listed as follows:
"1- Discontinuation of export-import bank support to individuals and institutions included in the scope of sanctions
2- Not granting a license to export goods and technology
3- Not obtaining loans from US financial institutions
4- Not providing loans from international financial institutions
5- Financial institutions are not allowed to make direct transactions with the US Federal Reserve.
6- Not making tenders or contracts with persons or institutions included in the scope of sanctions.
7- Prohibition of transactions in foreign currency
8- Prohibition of payments or credit transfers between financial institutions and banks
9- Prohibition of persons or institutions included in the scope of sanctions from owning real estate on US territory
10- Prohibition of US persons and institutions from exchanging capital or debt from persons or institutions subject to sanctions
11- Entry ban to the USA for people included in the scope of sanctions
12- Imposing sanctions on high-level officials who have similar functions to the individuals and institutions included in the scope of sanctions."
According to the relevant article of the law, the US President is obliged to select and implement at least 5 of these 12 articles.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
A vote will be held in the US Congress to lift CAATSA sanctions.
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- When will the necessary congressional approval be obtained for the full removal of sanctions?
- How will the removal of sanctions affect Türkiye's position within NATO?
- How will technical and security concerns regarding the use of S-400 systems be addressed?
