Turkey Letter 22 July 2019

Foreign Policy: 

  • Turkey will retaliate if U.S. imposes sanctions over S-400s: minister 
  • Turkey will launch operation in Syria if safe zone not established: minister 
  • Lawmakers Press Trump on Sanctions Against Turkey 
  • U.S. removing Turkey from F-35 program after its Russian missile defense purchase 
  • Gunmen kill Turkish diplomat and two Iraqis in the Kurdish region of Iraq 

Economy & Energy: 

  • Turkey’s Mission to Lower Rates Could Take Longer After Shake-Up 
  • Unable to Buy Iran Oil, New Turkish Refinery Turns to Russia 
  • Turkey steps up drilling activities around Cyprus 

Domestic Politics: 

  • Turkey Orders Thousands of Syrian Refugees to Leave Istanbul 
  • Turkish Court Remands Businessman Kavala in Jail: Lawyer 
  • Turkish Court Acquits RSF Representative, Two Others 

Foreign Policy 

Turkey will retaliate if U.S. imposes sanctions over S-400s: minister 

Turkey would retaliate against what it called an unacceptable threat of U.S. sanctions over Ankara’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile defenses, its foreign minister said on Monday, adding he thinks President Donald Trump wants to avoid such measures. 

Reuters, Turkey will retaliate if U.S. imposes sanctions over S-400s: minister, 22 July 2019 


Turkey will launch operation in Syria if safe zone not established: minister 

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that if a planned safe zone in northern Syria is not established, and if threats continue against Turkey, Ankara will launch a military operation east of the Euphrates river. 

Reuters, Turkey will launch operation in Syria if safe zone not established: minister, 22 July 2019 


Lawmakers Press Trump on Sanctions Against Turkey 

President Trump plans to meet with a group of senators at the White House this week to discuss possible sanctions against Turkey as pressure mounts from lawmakers to punish Ankara for its recent purchase of a Russian missile-defense system. 

Wall Street Journal, Lawmakers Press Trump on Sanctions Against Turkey, 21 July 2019 


 U.S. removing Turkey from F-35 program after its Russian missile defense purchase 

The United States said on Wednesday that it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move long threatened and expected after Ankara began accepting delivery of an advanced Russian missile defense system last week. 

Reuters, U.S. removing Turkey from F-35 program after its Russian missile defense purchase, 17 July 2019  


Gunmen kill Turkish diplomat and two Iraqis in the Kurdish region of Iraq 

A Turkish diplomat and two Iraqis were killed Wednesday in a gun attack in a restaurant in the Kurdish-controlled region of Iraq, according to the Turkish and Iraqi governments. 

The New York Times, Gunmen kill Turkish diplomat and two Iraqis in the Kurdish region of Iraq, 17 July 2019 


Economy & Energy 

Turkey’s Mission to Lower Rates Could Take Longer After Shake-Up 

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may end up losing the long game of bringing Turkish interest rates lower after installing a new central bank governor. 

Bloomberg, Turkey’s Mission to Lower Rates Could Take Longer After Shake-Up, 22 July 2019 


Unable to Buy Iran Oil, New Turkish Refinery Turns to Russia 

Azerbaijan’s state oil company is turning to Russia to supply a new $6.3 billion refinery it built in Turkey because shipments from one of its preferred suppliers — Iran — are off the table due to U.S. sanctions. 

Bloomberg, Unable to Buy Iran Oil, New Turkish Refinery Turns to Russia, 21 July 2019 


Turkey steps up drilling activities around Cyprus 

Turkey’s vice president said Saturday that his country is dispatching a survey vessel to join two drillships and another research boat to search for hydrocarbons off ethnically divided Cyprus. 

AP News, Turkey steps up drilling activities around Cyprus, 20 July 2019 


Domestic Politics 

Turkey Orders Thousands of Syrian Refugees to Leave Istanbul 

Turkey, home to the largest refugee population in the world, announced measures on Monday to limit the number of Syrian migrants in its largest city, Istanbul. 

Bloomberg, Turkey Orders Thousands of Syrian Refugees to Leave Istanbul, 22 July 2019 


Turkish Court Remands Businessman Kavala in Jail: Lawyer 

A Turkish court on Thursday ruled to remand in jail prominent businessman and rights activist Osman Kavala, who is accused of trying to overthrow the government by organizing protests six years ago, one of his lawyers said. 

New York Times, Turkish Court Remands Businessman Kavala in Jail: Lawyer, 18 July 2019 


 Turkish Court Acquits RSF Representative, Two Others 

An Istanbul court on Wednesday acquitted the Turkey representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as well as two other campaigners for press freedom on trial for terrorism charges, their lawyers said. 

New York Times, Turkish Court Acquits RSF Representative, Two Others, 17 July 2019