U.S. warns Turkey on exports seen to boost Russia's war effort
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[February 04, 2023]
By Jonathan Spicer
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -The United States warned Turkey in recent days about
the export to Russia of chemicals, microchips and other products that
can be used in Moscow's war effort in Ukraine, and it could move to
punish Turkish companies or banks contravening sanctions.
Brian Nelson, the U.S. Treasury Department's top sanctions official,
visited Turkish government and private sector officials on Thursday and
Friday to urge more cooperation in disrupting the flow of such goods.
In a speech to bankers, Nelson said a marked year-long rise in exports
to Russia leaves Turkish entities "particularly vulnerable to
reputational and sanctions risks", or lost access to G7 markets.
They should "take extra precaution to avoid transactions related to
potential dual-use technology transfers that could be used by the
Russian military-industrial complex," he said in a copy of the speech
issued by the Treasury.
In the meetings in Ankara and Istanbul, Nelson and a delegation
highlighted tens of millions of dollars of exports to Russia that raised
concerns, according to a senior U.S. official who requested anonymity.
"There is no surprise...that Russia is actively looking to leverage the
historic economic ties it has in Turkey," the official said. "The
question is what is the Turkish response going to be."
NATO member Ankara opposes the sweeping sanctions on Russia on principle
but says they will not be circumvented in Turkey, urging the West to
provide any evidence.
Western nations applied the export controls and sanctions after Moscow's
invasion nearly a year ago. Yet supply channels have remained open from
Hong Kong, Turkey and other trading hubs.
Citing Russian customs records, Reuters reported in December that at
least $2.6 billion of computer and other electronic components flowed
into Russia in the seven months to Oct. 31. At least $777 million of
these products were made by Western firms whose chips have been found in
Russian weapons systems.
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PRESSURE
Ankara has balanced its good ties with both Moscow and Kyiv
throughout the war, held early talks between the sides and also
helped broker a deal for grain shipments from Ukraine.
The trip by Nelson, the Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and
financial intelligence, is the latest to Turkey by senior U.S.
officials aiming to ramp up pressure on Ankara to ensure enforcement
of U.S. curbs on Russia.
The pressure has brought some changes.
Turkey's largest ground-service provider, Havas, told Russian and
Belarusian airlines it may stop providing parts, fuel and other
services to their U.S.-origin aircraft, in line with Western bans,
Reuters reported on Friday citing a Jan. 31 letter from the company.
In September, five Turkish banks suspended use of the Russian Mir
payment system after the U.S. Treasury targeted the head of the
system's operator with new sanctions and warned those helping Moscow
against skirting them.
Nelson urged the Turkish bankers to conduct enhanced due diligence
on Russian-related transactions, and noted in the speech that
Russian oligarchs continue to buy property and dock yachts in
Turkey.
In separate talks with Turkish firms, Nelson "urgently" flagged the
way Russia is believed to be dodging Western controls to re-supply
plastics, rubber and semi-conductors found in exported goods and
used by the military, the official said.
The person added that after taking steps last year to press Russia
to end the war, the U.S. focus is now "on evasion and particularly
evasion in third countries that we are seeing".
Nelson delivered similar messages in the United Arab Emirates and
Oman this week, the Treasury said.
(Reporting by Jonathan SpicerEditing by Frances Kerry)
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