This year, it was confirmed that Turkiye exported a large number of civilian goods that can be converted into weapons to Russia. As Turkiye, who claimed to be a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, appears to have later helped Russia, some analysts say that the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) alliance to which Turkiye belongs has been put to the test.
The Financial Times (FT) reported on the 27th (local time) that “NATO is in trouble as Turkiye has sold a large number of civilian materials that can be converted to military use to Russia and other countries.” According to statistics released by Türkiye, as of September this year, Türkiye had distributed 45 types of ‘sensitive civilian goods’ (semiconductor chips, communication equipment, etc.) that could be converted into military supplies, which the United States had designated as ‘high priority’, to Russia and the former Soviet Union. exported to other countries.
Five former Soviet Union countries, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, are suspected of importing goods needed by Russia, which is under economic sanctions from the West. According to the data released by Turkiye, the export declaration of sensitive items to these countries increased rapidly, but the statistical agencies of the five countries did not record the amount of imports commensurate with the increase.
For example, Kazakhstan recorded imports from Turkiye at $6.1 million as of September this year, but according to Turkiye data, exports to Kazakhstan amounted to $66 million. “The discrepancy in the size of the trade makes it clear that these goods are being transported to Russia,” said Elina Rybakova, a senior fellow at the think tank Peterson Institute for International Economics.
The total amount of 45 sensitive items exported by Turkye to these countries amounted to $158 million. This is three times the amount of exports during the same period after Russia invaded Ukraine last year. From 2015 to 2021, before the Ukraine war, Turkiye’s exports of sensitive items to Russia averaged only $28 million. In order to secure sales to Russia and five former Soviet Union countries, Turkiye’s imports of sensitive items are also increasing significantly.
The amount of ‘high priority’ sensitive items imported by Turkiye from the seven major countries (G7) this year approached $500 million, an increase of more than 60% compared to the same period from 2015 to 2021. A European economic sanctions official said, “Turkiye, along with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is acting as a conduit and middleman to obtain export-controlled items that Russia needs.” “Trade is thriving by exploiting gaps in U.S. export controls and European Union regulations,” said Emily Kilcrease, director of the Center for American Security think tank. “In some third countries, such as Türkiye, Western authorities say they “We are in a much weaker position to enforce sanctions than we would like,” he said.
Reporter Kim Rian [email protected]
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2023-11-27 23:27:07
