US threatens more sanctions on Turkey if Brunson not released
WASHINGTON DC (Kurdistan 24) – US officials again, on Thursday, threatened Turkey with further economic sanctions if it did not release American pastor, Andrew Brunson, whom it has detained since October 2016, following an abortive coup in July.
In a Cabinet meeting, Steven Mnuchin, US Treasury Secretary, told President Donald Trump that his department had prepared additional sanctions if Turkey continued to detain Brunson.
“We have more that we’re planning to do if they don’t release him quickly,” Mnuchin said.
On July 25, a Turkish court released Brunson from prison, but placed him under house arrest rather than free him altogether as the Trump administration had been led to expect.
On Wednesday, Brunson’s appeal to be released from house arrest and to have his travel ban lifted was rejected.
Turkey has “not proven to be a good friend,” Trump said during Thursday’s Cabinet session. “They have a great Christian pastor there. He’s an innocent man.”
Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, responded to Trump’s statement by complaining that he was wrong.
The US “cannot see who its true friend is,” Cavusoglu told a conference of ambassadors in Ankara. “We can easily solve problems with the US, but not with its current mindset.“
Following news reports about the statements of Trump and Mnuchin, Turkey’s currency again lost value, after recovering from historic lows, particularly after the emir of Qatar visited Ankara on Wednesday and pledged to invest $15 billion in the Turkish economy.
On Thursday evening, following Cavusoglu’s comments, Trump reiterated his position in a tweet, “Turkey has taken advantage of the United States for many years.”
“They are now holding our wonderful Christian Pastor, who I must now ask to represent our Country as a great patriot hostage,” he continued.
“We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man, but we are cutting back on Turkey!”
The renewed US warnings to Turkey came on the same day that the State Department announced the formation of an “Iran Action Group” to coordinate US measures on Iran, which include a wide range of economic sanctions.
Turkey has already said that it will not abide by the new US-mandated sanctions on Iran.
Editing by Nadia Riva