Washington has warned Ankara of "consequences" if it does not cease trade with Russia. As a result, Turkish authorities have adjusted their customs system and blocked the export of more than 40 categories of American-made goods, which the U.S. and its Western allies consider "vital" for Moscow in its war against Kyiv, three sources told the newspaper.
This includes modern electronics that Russia uses in missiles and drones, processors and memory cards, machines, and other equipment for weapon production.
According to one of the sources, Turkey has not disclosed information about these trade restrictions due to "political sensitivity."
According to the FT, the Biden administration has made efforts to halt the supply of military equipment to Russia through Turkey. In August, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce Matthew Axelrod met with Turkish officials and top executives in Ankara and Istanbul, warning them of unpleasant "consequences" if they did not block shipments of products to Russia.
The publication also notes that the volume of shipments has significantly decreased since December 2023, when the U.S. announced the likelihood of imposing secondary sanctions on banks in other countries that conduct transactions involving sanctioned goods.
FT highlighted that, according to Turkish statistics, at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, exports of high-priority goods from Turkey to Russia amounted to nearly $3 million per month, which rose to $37.6 million by December 2022. By July 2024, it had decreased to $4.5 million.
However, the primary transshipment point remains China (including Hong Kong). According to Trade Data Monitor, in July, they sold military-related products to Russia worth $377.7 million, and in December 2023, over $680 million.