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Senator Lankford Statement on US Sanctions on Turkey

Statement

Date: Oct. 15, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Foreign Affairs

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on the announcement from the Administration to impose sanctions on Turkey:

"For two years, Turkey unjustly held US pastor Andrew Brunson, and the Trump Administration, at my request, responded with sanctions. When Turkey tried to purchase both Russian and US military equipment, we pushed to stop the transfer of the US F-35 technology to Turkey. Now, as Turkey continues to turn their back on the region it is right that the US should respond with the appropriate consequences when foreign allies make ill-advised military advances instead of promoting peace in the region.

"Turkey has aggressively moved into Syria causing civilian casualties, additional refugees, and has caused the release of multiple ISIS prisoners. The damage to the Turkish economy from the US sanctions is clearly the responsibility of the Turkish leadership, which has attacked the Kurds and made a bad situation in Syria even worse."


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