Merkel: EU to discuss arms exports to Turkey with NATO, and the U.S.

12:59 13/12/2020 - Πηγή: Armynow

European leaders are set to discuss the question of arms exports to Turkey with NATO allies and Washington, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday.

“We (EU’s 27 leaders) spoke about how questions about arms exports must be discussed within NATO and we want to coordinate with the new U.S.

administration about Turkey,” Reuters cited Merkel as saying at a news conference.

The European Council has postponed discussions on harsher steps against Turkey until March next year after Greece pushed for an arms embargo and tougher economic sanctions on Ankara over its gas drilling activities in disputed eastern Mediterranean waters, during the EU summit this week.

The German chancellor’s remarks underlined a hardening stance on Turkey among EU governments, according to Reuters.

Many of the EU countries whom are also NATO members have resisted to tough sanctions on Ankara in the past as a NATO ally and an important block for Syrian refugees on European borders, but country’s recent actions such as its involvement in Libya and the purchase of Russian defence system are causing criticism over Turkey, Reuters stated.

The United States senate has passed the bill under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) on Friday to impose sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile system.

Source: ahvalnews.com

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