Turkey quietly curbs military goods exports to Russia following US warning, FT reports

Turkey has quietly blocked the export of U.S.-origin military goods to Russia following a warning from Washington, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Oct. 22.In recent weeks, Ankara updated its customs systems to stop the export of over 40 categories of U.S.-made items deemed critical to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to FT sources.The new restrictions target goods such as microchips, processors, and control systems, believed to be used in weapons.According to the report, Turkish banks have also reduced dealings with Russian entities over the past year, following U.S. threats of sanctions.The updated policy regarding Russian exports was not publicly announced due to political sensitivities.While Turkey is a NATO member, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has aimed to maintain positive relations with both Russia and Ukraine.Turkey has also facilitated the flow of Russian oil to the European Union since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, enabling…