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Erdogan Remains Defiant in Face of US Sanctions

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - U.S. sanctions on Turkey over its Syrian military offensive
   are being dismissed by the political leadership in Ankara, as financial
   markets shrug off the measures.

   Sanctions were announced against Turkish officials on Monday as
   negotiations on a $100 billion trade deal ended. While a tariff on
   Turkish steel was doubled to 50%, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said
   the measures would remain until Turkey declared a cease-fire with the
   Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG.

   Last week, Turkish forces launched a major military attack into Syria
   against the YPG, considered by Ankara to be linked to terrorism inside
   Turkey. The YPG has been a U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic
   State terror group.

   With over 100,000 people displaced by the fighting, and fears mounting
   that the operation is opening the door to a resurgence of the Islamic
   State group, international condemnation continues to grow.

   Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the Trump
   administration's measures.

   "We have seen all the threats from sanctions to embargoes, just because
   we fight against terrorism," he said.

   Erdogan later pledged to continue with the operation until "all our
   objectives had been achieved."

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