Turkey Threatens Retaliation Against Possible U.S. Pipeline Sanctions

(Reuters) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Friday that Ankara would retaliate against potential U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian defense systems and the TurkStream gas pipeline. 

Turkstream during construction (photo: Gazprom)

 U.S. Congress has moved to impose sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of S-400 defense systems from Russia and related to Russia's TurkStream pipeline, which will carry Russian gas to Turkey.

Asked about the various sanctions against Ankara, Erdogan repeated that the S-400 deal was already completed.

"Now they are saying, 'we will impose sanctions against this' regarding TurkStream," he was quoted as saying. "This is a breach of our rights in the fullest sense. We will of course have our own sanctions against all of these."

The Associated Press, meanwhile quoted German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas as saying Friday that he was “under no illusions” that proposed U.S. sanctions against companies involved in building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Europe might be stopped at the last minute.

U.S. President Donald Trump, AP reported, is expected to sign a Senate bill later Friday that provides for sanctions against companies involved in laying the Nord Stream 2 pipeline through the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.

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