Turkey warns of retaliation if US stops arms sales: report

Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said his country would retaliate if the U.S. ceases its weapons sales to Ankara, Reuters reported.

The House of Representatives recently released details of a $717 billion annual defense policy bill that, among other measures, would temporarily stop weapons sales to Turkey.

Cavusoglu spoke out against the House bill during an interview with CNN Turk, saying it was not an appropriate action to take against 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 this.”

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His comments come amid increased tension between the two countries over the war in Syria, where the U.S. backs forces that Turkey sees as a threat, as well as accusations of human rights violations carried out by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

Although the proposed National Defense Authorization Act is still a few steps from becoming law, it would ask the Defense Department to give Congress a report on Turkey’s relationship with the U.S. and withhold weapons sales until the report was finished.

Turkey plans to buy more than 100 jets from Lockheed Martin and is also in talks with Washington to purchase Patriot missiles, according to Reuters.

NATO countries recently criticized Turkey for purchasing weapons from Russia that are incompatible with the NATO systems.

Cavusoglu said that its relationship with Russia was not an alternative to its relationship with Western nations and accused the U.S. of trying to control Turkey, Reuters reported.