US sanctions dismissed as ‘cheap threat’
President Donald Trump declared yesterday the United States will impose sanctions on Turkey, a crucial Nato ally, in retaliation for the detention of an American pastor on terror and espionage charges.
Turkey’s response was both harsh and dismissive, calling his words ‘‘unacceptable’’ and a ‘‘cheap threat.’’
Trump’s promise of punishing action marks the latest deterioration in relations between Turkey and the US as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers expand two years after a failed coup against his government.
Trump also has praised his counterpart, saying Erdogan’s leadership is ‘‘getting very high marks.’’
The US has long depended on a key air base in Turkey’s south, most recently to launch airstrikes against the Islamic State group.
Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson was first detained by Turkish authorities in the aftermath of the failed 2016 coup. On Thursday he was let out of jail after 18 months, transferred to house arrest because of ‘‘health problems,’’ according to Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency. But Trump said that was not sufficient. ‘‘He is suffering greatly. This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!’’ Trump wrote on Twitter.
The announcement of sanctions – though no details of how or when – came as the State Department was holding a three-day event promoting religious freedom. Brunson’s case has become a cause for conservative Christians who form an important part of Trump’s political base.
Turkey responded that Brunson’s detention falls within the jurisdiction of its independent judiciary. ‘‘Rule of law is for everyone; no exception,’’ said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, also via Twitter.
And an Erdogan spokesman warned the US to ‘‘reconsider its approach and adopt a constructive position before inflicting further damage to its own interests and its alliance with Turkey.’’
US Vice President Mike Pence announced the threat of action at the religious freedom conference, then Trump tweeted that his government ‘‘will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson.’’
Trump could impose certain sanctions unilaterally or try to act through Congress. Senators have previously taken steps toward blocking the sale of F-35 jets to Turkey, citing Brunson’s detention as an instance of Erdogan’s disregard for the rule of law.
Brunson, 50, an evangelical Christian pastor originally from North Carolina, could face up to 35 years in prison if convicted of espionage and ‘‘committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member,’’ references to outlawed Kurdish militants and the network of a US-based Muslim cleric blamed for the failed coup attempt.
Brunson denies the charges. ‘‘Brunson is an innocent man, there is no credible evidence against him,’’ Pence said in his remarks yesterday.
Trump said on Twitter last week that the pastor’s detention was ‘‘a total disgrace.’’ One of Brunson’s attorneys is Jay Sekulow, who also represents Trump in the federal Trump-Russia investigation.
Ties between Nato ally Turkey and the United States have been strained by other issues.
Turkey recently finalised a deal to purchase Russia’s long-range S-400 missile defence system, refusing to back down despite strong opposition from the US and other Nato members. –AP