Turkey denies supplying items to be used in Russia’s war effort

Turkey has declared that it does not export products that could be used in Russia’s war effort.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said this, Reuters reports.

He made such a statement after meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday, February 20.

“It is not true that we have exported to Russia products that can be used in the defence industry. We asked the United States to notify [us] if there are any violations on this issue,” Çavuşoğlu said.

He also emphasized that Turkey would not allow U.S. and European sanctions to be violated in or via Turkey, and that Turkey was taking steps to prevent it.

Çavuşoğlu added that Turkey would act if a violation was detected, adding that the increase in Turkey’s trade with Russia was largely due to Ankara’s hefty gas and energy imports, which had tripled in cost.

According to Reuters, a top U.S. Treasury official visited Turkish government and private sector officials earlier this month to urge more cooperation in disrupting the flow of goods that can be used by Russia’s defence industries.

In early February, The Wall Street Journal, citing trade data, reported that Turkish companies exported to Russia equipment, electronics, spare parts and other items necessary for its military needs last year.

According to the publication, they were purchased by at least 10 Russian companies that are under US sanctions due to their involvement in the invasion of Ukraine.

Also, Turkish companies reportedly sent at least three batches of US-made items to the Russians.

This violates US export controls designed to deprive Russia of vital military equipment.

The United States is also trying to stop the supply of Iranian drones to Russia. The White House has stepped up its efforts to strip Iran of Western-made components needed to build drones.