US legislators are moving forward with Turkish sanctions, even after a five-day ceasefire was brokered between Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US vice president Mike Pence. The agreement will halt military operations to give Kurdish forces time to withdraw from a safe zone in Syria. Turkey has been bombing the YPG since last year, when it began its offensive against the group that is considered by many as terrorists because of their links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). While lawmakers welcomed the ceasefire, they view the threat of sanctions as leverage over Turkey to ensure compliance. The bill should receive enough Senate support to overcome a potential presidential veto, Republican senator Lindsey Graham predicted.
US legislators are moving forward with Turkish sanctions, even after a five-day ceasefire was brokered between Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US vice president Mike Pence. The agreement will halt military operations to give Kurdish forces time to withdraw from a safe zone in Syria. However, the bipartisan bill seeks to cripple Ankara, particularly targeting Turkish officials and ending US military cooperation. While lawmakers welcomed the ceasefire, they view the threat of sanctions as leverage over Turkey to ensure compliance. The bill should receive enough Senate support to overcome a potential presidential veto, Republican senator Lindsey Graham predicted.