Trump Lifts Turkey Sanctions

The Trump administration removed sanctions against Turkey it had imposed just one week earlier, drawing criticism and warnings from some Congress members of future sanctions if Turkey does not end military operations in Syria.

The decision removed sanctions from Turkish government agencies and top officials, including Turkey’s defense ministry, energy ministry, defense minister (Hulusi Akar), energy minister (Fatih Donmez) and interior minister (Suleyman Soylu).

The announcement came less than a week after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would lift the sanctions if Turkey agreed to a ceasefire. Speaking from the White House on Oct. 23, Trump said Turkey agreed to a "permanent" ceasefire but also suggested the ceasefire may not last.

"You would also define the word 'permanent' in that part of the world as somewhat questionable. We all understand that,” Trump said. “But I do believe it will be permanent.” Trump also said the U.S. “reserves the right” to reimpose sanctions on Turkey if "something happens that we’re not happy with."

After Trump announced last week the sanctions would be lifted, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House was committed to passing a “strong, bipartisan” sanctions package against Turkey soon (see 1910180060). Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., introduced a bill that would impose sanctions against Turkey’s military, a Turkish bank and top government officials (see 1910170054), but Graham appeared to soften his stance in a statement released Oct. 23.

“The cease-fire, if permanent, represents real progress,” Graham said. “If we can create a sustainable Safe Zone -- that protects Turkey’s national security interests and prevents the ethnic cleansing of our Kurdish allies -- that will be historic progress.”

Democratic members were not convinced. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the move a “nonsensical and counterproductive foreign policy decision,” adding that Turkey’s assurances should not be believed. “The notion that the United States should trust Turkey, which has already showed a willingness to ignore President Trump ... is delusional and dangerous,” Schumer said.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he "strongly" disagrees with the decision to lift sanctions. "The House must and will act next week when we bring a bipartisan sanctions bill to the House Floor to deter Turkey’s assault on our Kurdish allies," Hoyer said.

During an Oct. 23 House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said Trump's foreign policy decisions during the last week, including the decision to lift sanctions, “has just been devastating.”

“This is the worst example I’ve seen of what I call this administration’s ‘fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants’ foreign policy,” Engel said. "One minute, the president’s shouting from the rooftops that he’s fine with what Turkey is doing. The next, he says he’ll destroy Turkey if they continue.”

Michael McCaul of Texas, the committee’s top Republican, said the House will closely monitor Turkey’s compliance with the ceasefire. “If Turkey continues this destructive campaign, we will quickly pass bipartisan legislation that will bring hard-hitting sanctions against [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s government,” McCaul said. “But I hope the ceasefire works.”