US imposes sanctions on Turkey over Russian defense system buy

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defenses and targeted the top Turkish defense development body, its president and three employees.

The move, while focused on the defense sector, including Turkey's Defence Industries Directorate (SSB), has drawn a condemnation from NATO-ally Ankara and is likely to further strain Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's relations with Western allies.

The sanctions, first reported by Reuters last week, include a ban on all US export licences as well as asset freezes and visa restrictions for SSB's president, Ismail Demir, and three other employees.

They threaten to damage Turkey's economy at a time when it is struggling with a coronavirus-induced slowdown and double-digit inflation.

Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 ground-to-air defenses in mid-2019 and says...