Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the US Treasury, met with Turkish officials on February 2 and February 3 to discuss US concerns about the rising exports that include US goods, according to people with knowledge of the matter. It was part of a regional tour that included the UAE earlier this week.
US officials told Turkiye to clamp down on a flow of goods to Russia. They warned their counterparts that tens of millions of dollars’ worth of export-controlled goods were reaching Russia and could be used by the defense industry to extend the conflict, the people said.
Between March and October of last year, dozens of Turkish exporters sent about $800 million worth of goods to Russia, including $300 million in machinery and another $80 million in electronics, they said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.
Nelson is the third senior official from the US Treasury to visit Turkiye in a year, ratcheting up pressure to comply with US sanctions. More visits from the EU and the US on the topic are expected to take place in the coming weeks, the people said.
Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin previously noted that Turkiye is not joining the sanctions against Russia, as this will harm Ankara more than Moscow.
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