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Turkey strongly protests against a decision by the U.S. Treasury Department to impose sanctions on two ministers, the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement late Wednesday.
"An equivalent response to this aggressive attitude will be given without delay," it said.
The ministry called on the U.S. administration to reverse its "wrong decision".
"There is no doubt that the decision, which disrespectfully intervenes in our judicial system, stands in contrast to the essence of our relations and will seriously damage the constructive efforts made in order to resolve problems between the two countries," it said.
"U.S. attempt to impose sanctions on our two ministers will not go unanswered," Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu said on Twitter.
He also said the two countries would not resolve issues unless the U.S. administration realizes that Turkey will not give in to unlawful U.S. demands with this method.
Turkey is not a country that can be easily dispensed with, said the Turkish presidential spokesman on Tuesday.“Everyone should know. It may be the [F-35 fighter jets] or other issues. Turkey is not without alternatives,” said Ibrahim Kalın, responding to U.S. threats to impose sanctions or halt weapons sales to Turkey.“The U.S. using threatening language, using an ongoing legal issue as an excuse is unacceptable,” Kalın told reporters at the presidential complex.“Everyone has to respect the ongoing legal procedure on the Pastor Brunson issue,” Kalın said.Turkish business leader blasts threats by Trump, PenceTurkish-U.S. relations soured after President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey over American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who was arrested in December 2016 on terrorism-related charges.
His charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup attempt in Turkey of July 2016.
The U.S. Congress has also tried to halt the sales of F-35 jets, citing the arrests of U.S. citizens in Turkey and Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.Pointing out that both sides signed contracts for the sale, Ankara has responded that even if the F-35 sale were cancelled, Turkey has other alternatives.Kalın also said that Turkey is not expecting the recent tensions to have a negative effect on the roadmap between the two countries for the northern Syrian city of Manbij, and that they have not.“The Manbij plan continues to be implemented as designed. It has a certain calendar and elements. These are being carried out step by step,” he added.“Our fight against against terror threats originating from Syria will continue with determination.”President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will announce his 100-day action plan on Aug. 3, Kalın announced.He added: “A strategic plan for the 2019-2023 period will be prepared by November.”
Turkey is not without alternatives: Presidential aide
On his Twitter account, one of the ministers targeted for sanctions, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, said he does not own any property or have money outside Turkey.
He added that his only dream was to live in Turkey until the end of his life.
Previously, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said the U.S. would impose sanctions on Turkey’s ministers of justice and interior for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.
A top Turkish business leader on Tuesday blasted recent threats against Turkey made by the U.S. administration.Turkish businesspeople disapprove of the remarks of U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, said Erol Bilecik, chair of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), while visiting Parliament Speaker Binali Yıldırım."We can never approve of the remarks of Pence and Trump, especially over social media," Bilecik told reporters.Erdoğan: Turkey will stand its ground faced with US sanctionsHe added that the remarks were "not part of a solution but the issue."Bilecik called on the two countries to make statements "with high diplomacy and aim for a solution."Relations between the countries soured after Trump and Pence threatened on Twitter to impose sanctions on Turkey over American pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges.Turkey expects 'mutual respect' in ties with US‘Turkish justice will have final say on pastor case’Brunson’s charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the defeated coup attempt of July 2016.
Turkish business leader blasts threats by Trump, Pence
Sanders said the U.S. would block the properties, if any, of the two ministers.
In a written statement published Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department said Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu "played leading roles in the organizations responsible for the arrest and detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson".
According to U.S. law, those mentioned on the sanctions list will have any of their assets and properties under U.S. jurisdiction blocked and American businesses and individuals will be prohibited from engaging in financial transactions with them.
Brunson indictment
Brunson has been charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.
The American pastor was arrested in October 2016. The Izmir 5th Penal Court of Peace on Dec. 9 of that year ordered Brunson's continued detention pending trial.
On July 25, the 2nd High Criminal Court in Izmir decided to turn Brunson's detention into house arrest in light of his health problems.
The Turkish-U.S. relationship can be saved and improved provided that "the U.S. administration takes Turkey's security concerns seriously," Turkey's presidential spokesman said.In a column, titled “Basic rule of Turkish-US relations: Mutual respect and shared interest,” published on Saturday in Daily Sabah, Ibrahim Kalin said the U.S. took a series of steps in recent years to undermine its strategic partnership with Turkey and weaken a relationship that had been strong and mutually productive."Washington's Faustian pact with that terrorist group, which the Obama administration promised would be "temporary, transactional and tactical," at the time, was adopted by the Trump administration last year. While it is true that the current administration has gradually distanced itself from U.S. Central Command's (CENTCOM) strategy and, as part of this effort, agreed to a road map for the YPG's long-awaited withdrawal from Manbij, the lack of a concrete policy change continues to haunt the relationship,” Kalin wrote.“Turkey is justified to expect that the U.S. disengage from the YPG militants, who are currently in talks with the Assad regime, without delay," he added.Kalin said Trump administration's "unwillingness" to take concrete steps to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on U.S. soil has been "disappointing, to say the least, for Turkey."FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen were behind the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.The Presidential aide wrote that Turkey "cannot turn a blind eye to the actions of a NATO ally when they threaten its national security at home and abroad.""President Trump may have good intentions for relations with President Erdogan and Turkey," he said, adding: "This will certainly be reciprocated when the relationship is based on mutual respect and shared interest."Tension between the two NATO allies increased once again when U.S. President Donald Trump sent a tweet threatening to impose sanctions on Turkey if pastor Andrew Craig Brunson -- who faces terrorism-related charges -- is not released.Ankara has balked strongly at Trump threatening Turkey with sanctions if it does not release Brunson, who is charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the FETO.
Turkey expects 'mutual respect' in ties with US
Izmir Public Prosecutor Berkant Karakaya's indictment stated that Brunson acted in accordance with terrorist groups' strategies under the pretext of being a man of religion. It added that Brunson knew the aims of such groups and yet still willingly cooperated with them.
In the indictment, Brunson was mentioned as getting in touch with FETÖ's high-ranking members using their alias. He was accused of determining his strategies by getting in touch with FETÖ fugitives Bekir Baz, his assistant Murat Safa and Amnesty International's Turkey branch head Taner Kilic, who is awaiting trial in prison for "being a member of an armed terrorist group".
In the technical investigation, 293 close GSM signals were detected from Brunson with fugitive Bekir Baz.
The indictment also mentions a message sent to a U.S. soldier expressing sadness over the July 2016 defeated coup.
The text message said: “We were expecting an earthquake to shake the Turkish nation. The conditions returning to Jesus were met now. Many Turks relied on the military like in the past, but this time it was too late. Another blow after the coup attempt. I think the situation is going to get worse. We'll win at the end."