Turkish president to counter US sanctions
ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said Saturday he was ordering reciprocal sanctions against two U.S. officials in retaliation for U.S. measures against two of his ministers, escalating a diplomatic wrangle between the NATO allies.
“Those who think that they can make Turkey take a step back with ridiculous sanctions have never known this country or this nation,” Erdogan said in a speech in the capital, Ankara. “We have never bowed our heads to such pressure and will never do so.”
The Turkish action came after the White House announced sanctions freezing the assets of the Turkish interior and justice ministers this past week, in protest against Turkey’s detention of an American pastor, Andrew Brunson.
Erdogan said he would order his government to “freeze the assets” in Turkey of the U.S. counterparts of the targeted Turkish officials, describing them as “the U.S. justice and interior ministers.” Such an order would be largely symbolic. It’s unclear whether U.S. officials would have assets in Turkey.
The United States has sought the release of Brunson, 50, who leads the evangelical Resurrection Church in the city of Izmir, since his detention 21 months ago on charges of espionage and assisting terrorist groups. U.S. officials say Brunson is innocent and is being held by the Turkish government as a bargaining chip to leverage its interests in U.S. court cases.
Vice President Mike Pence has taken up the case of the pastor, as have several U.S. senators, describing him as a prisoner of conscience. President Donald Trump has raised the case personally with Erdogan.
Erdogan has maintained his popularity with strong nationalist, anti-U.S. rhetoric. He has frequently blamed Turkey’s growing economic problems on a foreign plot, but few political analysts say he is ready to break Turkey’s alliance with the United States and with NATO.
Still, his constant sparring over multiple issues has tested relations with Europe, NATO and Washington.
Negotiations over Brunson seemed to have failed last month when a Turkish court ordered his continued detention. His conditions were eased to house arrest after U.S. protests. His trial is set to continue in October.