This year, five times more “high-priority” goods entered Russia and the CIS countries through Turkey than in the same period before the war.
The United States is increasing pressure on Turkey, which redirects sanctioned goods to the Russian Federation and does not interfere with financial flows to Hamas. US Treasury Undersecretary for Financial Intelligence and Counterterrorism Brian Nelson said that by taking this position, Ankara is adding fuel to the fire in the two regions, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Nelson traveled to Turkey for the second time this year, planning to discuss “efforts to investigate and curb trade and financial activities supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
“We are determined to do everything in our power to cut through all of this [потоки]and we want to do it in cooperation with Turkey, but we are also ready to act independently,” said Nelson.
The United States has compiled a list of 45 “high priority” items, including microchips, communication equipment, etc., which, in addition to civilian products, can be used to make weapons .
The United States, the European Union, Great Britain and Japan have banned the export of such goods to Russia, which use them in cruise missiles, drones, helicopters, etc. But in January-September of this year, Turkey sent to Russia and five The CIS countries, which are considered intermediaries in such operations, are goods from this list in the amount of $158 million. This is three times higher than the same period in 2022 and 5.6 times higher than the average in 2015-2021, when such supplies cost only $28 million, Financial Times calculations show.
Also, authorized Russian cargo ships are serviced in Turkish ports. Russian oil products pass through the Dortyol terminal in the city of the same name, which, after being mixed with fuel storage from other countries, is then delivered to the Greek Motor Oil Hellas refinery, where the Pentagon buys fuel for its warships and aircraft at European bases. The Turkish tanker company is one of five authorized by the United States to trade Russian oil above the $60 per barrel ceiling.
If Turkish authorities do not restrict such activities, local companies and entrepreneurs will face a barrage of sanctions, American officials told The Wall Street Journal.
As for Hamas, Ankara, unlike Washington, does not recognize it as a terrorist organization and, in its attitude to the movement, draws a line between its political and military components. Although the United States has been battling Hamas funding with sanctions for nearly a decade, Turkey does not prevent companies linked to the group from operating on its territory.
In the past, the media reported that Türkiye is often an intermediate destination for Russian companies.
Russia increased oil exports to Turkey to a record level
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.