The Biden administration imposed sanctions on five Turkish companies and one Turkish citizen on Thursday, accusing them of helping Russia evade sanctions and supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine. The sanctions, first reported exclusively by Reuters, target shipping and trading companies accused of assisting in the repair of sanctioned vessels associated with the Russian Ministry of Defense and aiding in the transport of "dual-use goods." This action is part of a broader package of measures aimed at imposing sanctions on Russia, which includes around 150 entities, including the largest car manufacturer in the country.
The sanctions come at a critical time for US-Turkish relations, as Washington hopes Ankara will approve Sweden's application to join NATO when the Turkish parliament reconvenes in early next month. A senior official at the US Treasury, who requested anonymity, stated, "Over the past 18 months, we have expressed our concerns to the Turkish government and the private sector and warned them of the risks associated with dealing with those we have sanctioned in relation to the war in Russia." He added, "These new sanctions reflect our ongoing commitment to targeting individuals and entities that provide material support to sanctioned entities." No immediate comment was provided by the Turkish government.
