Turkey Threatens To Retaliate If US Cuts Off Arms Sales

By Tom Knighton

Turkey relies heavily on American-made weapons. The United States sells billions of dollars worth of weapons to the nation each year. As a NATO member, such sales make sense.

However, there has been some concern about Turkey in recent years, primarily whether it’s actually an ally or not. As a result, Congress is considering a measure that would suspend weapons sales to the country pending a report outlining the full extent of the relationship between the United States and Turkey.

Turkey isn’t particularly pleased with that, and is now threatening to retaliate.

Turkey will retaliate if the United States enacts a proposed law that would halt weapons sales to the country, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday.

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives released details on Friday of a $717 billion annual defense policy bill, including a measure to temporarily halt weapons sales to Turkey.

In an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk, Cavusoglu said the measures in the bill were wrong, illogical and not fitting between the NATO allies.

“If the United States imposes sanctions on us or takes such a step, Turkey will absolutely retaliate,” Cavusoglu said. “What needs to be done is the U.S. needs to let go of …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms