EDITOR’S NOTE. This fascinating story shows how brilliantly the Turks manipulated both sides of the conflict to their advantage… To the point that the US, who initially threatened them with heavy sanctions on the companies that did business with Russia, in the end, succumbed to the need to have Turkey as an ally and signed a ridiculous “sanctions compliance” scheme… At the same time, Greece plays a one-sided game that destroys its defense and many aspects of its businesses, especially shipping… I think this game will soon come to an abrupt end, as Turkey will be squeezed between the two superpowers…
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US and Türkiye agree ‘sanctions compliance’ scheme – media
The US and Türkiye have reportedly agreed on a plan allowing Turkish firms to trade with Russian partners while complying with sanctions against the country, Hürriyet reported on Tuesday.
According to the outlet, Washington previously “immediately” sanctioned Turkish companies that had or were alleged to have commercial connections with Russia even without notifying Ankara or asking for an investigation.
Under the new ‘sanctions compliance scheme’, the US will inform Türkiye about companies potentially subject to US sanctions and request relevant information. Ankara, in turn, will launch a probe into suspected violations and report the results, the article said.
Despite being a NATO member, Türkiye has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia, has maintained both economic and diplomatic ties with Moscow, and has pursued the further deepening of relations.
In February, the outlet Aydinlik revealed that officials from the US Department of Commerce visited Turkish companies and banks, and threatened to penalize them over trade relations with Russia.
Russian ambassador to Türkiye Aleksey Yerkhov confirmed the same month that US officials were forcing local businesses to cut off interactions with Moscow.
“We have information that American representatives are energetically working with Turkish business, essentially terrorizing companies and threatening consequences in case they continue trade and economic cooperation with Russia,” the diplomat said.
Last month, Aydinlik reported that at the behest of US authorities, some Turkish banks stopped processing trade payments from Russia except for food, and faced the threat of having currency swaps cut off if they did not terminate relations with their Russian partners.
US President Joe Biden signed an executive order in December allowing secondary sanctions to be placed on foreign financial institutions suspected of supporting Russia.
American officials have repeatedly highlighted Türkiye as a hub of sanctions evasion, with some Western officials making allegations about trade between Turkish firms and sanctioned Russian entities.
Local media reports cited Turkish businessmen as saying recent threats by the US have significantly complicated Turkish-Russian trade.
A number of businessmen told Aydinlik earlier this month that they were preparing to take legal action against US officials over their threats of sanctions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in February that the Russian authorities were aware of the situation and confirmed that negotiations were underway, blaming “unprecedented, blatant and aggressive US pressure on Türkiye and Turkish companies.”
Good article Nick ..very interesting and entertaining ! As an Independent, without any loyalty to any of the Ruling Parties of America and who will decide like most election , including Trumps election in 2014, who will be the president of the United States! Most independents are anti government and consider the U.S government corrupt thru and thru, and nothing more than a corrupt criminal enterprise like Tucker Carlson! And he has publically condemned the Economic Sanctions policies of the Uni party to be criminal attacks on the civilian population of the world, or as he worded it ” How do you impose Economic Sanctions and embargoes on Russia or any other country which deprives civilians of the ability to feed their children , operate their businesses , and prevent them from accessing their financial accounts to maintain the welfare of their families, I don’t get it ” So Nick , from the viewpoint of a Independent Greek American and Tucker Carlson.. all your article does is certify what independents have been saying for years… “No International Crime Syndicate can succeed without the Law Enforcement Agencies of the United States and Justice department! The crimes of Mistotakis ..is that he is part of this Crime syndicate and in fact has conspired with them to support illegal Economic Sanctions on the civilian populist of the world which violate the Rico act laws, International laws , Nuremburg Tribunal Codes of War and most importantly God laws! Independent are not one sided! Imagine that .. “Obstruction of Interstate and International Trade and Commerce ” by Criminal enterprises get you 25 years in levanworth, Kansas ! And when you add .. Extortion , Blackmail , fraud , money laundering, and in the end homicides, well it could Donnie a second chance by the public to do what he didn’t do the first time he was elected ..clean out the crime figures of both the Republican and Democratic competing crime families ! Just the facts, Nick ..by Independents like me and Tucker Carlson!