Foreign relations of the United States

Turkey's Presidential High Advisory Board on Dec. 15 condemned the U.S. unilateral sanctions over Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system, said the country's communications director.

The meeting of the board, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, lasted almost one and a half an hour.

US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt met with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in Athens on Tuesday to brief the Greek official on the US government's recent decision to impose sanctions on Turkey over Ankara's purchase of a Russian missile defense system.

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on a key Turkish defence agency over Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system.

Turkey took possession of the Russian missiles last year, despite repeated warnings from the US that it would lead to sanctions.

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) issued a statement on Monday hailing the Trump administration's announcement to impose sanctions on Turkey for its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, which is in violation of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) and the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) issued separate statements on Monday hailing the Trump administration's announcement to impose sanctions on Turkey for its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, which is in violation of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Greece welcomed the announced US sanctions against the top Turkish defense development body, its president and three employees on Monday.

Turkish Foreign Ministry on Dec. 14 said that U.S. sanctions will harm ties, adding that Ankara will retaliate as necessary.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Dec. 14 imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday the United States has made clear to Turkey that its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems would endanger the security of US military technology and personnel.

Pompeo said he has urged Turkey to resolve the S-400 issue in co-ordination with the United States.

The US Senate approved on Friday its defense budget for 2021 that, among other provisions, paves the way for the imposition of sanctions on Turkey over the supply of Russian S-400 missile systems.

The bill provides for the obligation to impose sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in Turkey within a specific timeframe.

This would effectively force the outgoing US President to impose penalties that have long been prescribed by law, writes the magazine "Foreign Policy".
Capitol Hill has long been pressuring Trump to impose mandatory sanctions on Turkey, after Ankara bought the Russian S-400 anti-missile system in July 2019.