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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States levied sanctions against Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for Turkey’s purchase of a Russian missile defense system, known as the S-400. When it was first revealed that Turkey was attempting to purchase the S-400 system from Russia, House Foreign Affairs Lead Republican Michael McCaul urged President Erdogan to work with the U.S. government to come to a NATO-compatible solution. And, since Turkey took delivery of the S-400 system last year, McCaul has repeatedly called on the Administration to impose sanctions under CAATSA. Below is a statement from Lead Republican McCaul on today’s announcement. 

“We have given Turkey every opportunity to correct their dangerous decision of purchasing an air defense system from Russia that would act as a surveillance system against all NATO aircraft for the Putin regime, posing a significant security threat to NATO member countries including the United States. I’m pleased the White House has finally levied these sanctions against Turkey, making it clear to President Erdogan that his country must fully recommit Turkey to the NATO alliance and remove this Russian asset from its arsenal.”

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