US Congress Agrees on Defense Bill Calling for Sanctions Against Turkey

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The US House of Representatives has reached an agreement on a defense bill setting policy for the Department of Defense.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) calls for sanctions on Turkey over its procurement of the S-400 air defense systems from Russia and a "tough response" to North Korea's development of nuclear weapons.

The 738-billion-dollar bill also includes measures to compete with Russia and China and the creation of a "space military force."

The bill prohibits the transfer of F-35 joint strike fighter planes to Turkey. Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 program in July over the purchase of the S-400s. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, opposing the decision, repeatedly said that Turkey is not a customer, but a producer of the jets.

US President Donald Trump supported Turkey after a meeting with Erdoğan at the G20 summit in late June, criticizing the previous administration for refusing to sell Patriot air defense systems to Turkey, which led it to buy the S-400s.

The NDAA says the President should impose sanctions on Turkey over the S-400 purchase.

Turkey signed a contract with Russia in April 2017 to acquire the S-400 anti-missile systems. The first batch of the systems was delivered to Turkey in July. (PT/VK)