Van Hollen Statement on Administration’s Turkish Sanctions Executive Order

Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s Executive Order announcement on sanctions on Turkey:

“President Trump gave Turkey the green light to attack the Syrian Kurds the moment he agreed to Erdogan's request to move American Special Forces away from key Kurdish-controlled areas. The idea that the Administration is now going to sanction Turkey to protect the Kurdish people rings totally hollow. This is nothing but an effort to stop the Congress from taking action to try to prevent further loss of life and get a Turkish withdrawal. Just yesterday, Trump joined Putin in the UN Security Council in vetoing a European statement of condemnation against Turkey. We have also been waiting months for Secretary Mnuchin to levy sanctions passed by Congress in response to Turkey's decision to purchase and take delivery of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which puts it at odds with its NATO allies. President Trump should immediately reverse his decision to withdraw the small number of Special Forces supporting the Syrian Kurds in the fight against ISIS, and I’m continuing to work on bipartisan legislation to immediately apply tough sanctions against Turkey until it ends its aggression and withdraws.”

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