In a significant development, Turkey has reportedly tripled its exports of dual-use products, which are considered crucial for the Russian military industry by Washington. This increase, as reported by the Financial Times, suggests a potential circumvention of Western sanctions against Moscow.
During the first nine months of 2023, Turkey’s exports of such goods amounted to a substantial $158 million. These exports include 45 types of equipment subject to export control in their countries of manufacture. Notable among these are microchips, communications equipment, and optical sights for small arms.
The surge in exports has been primarily to countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, as per Turkish customs statistics. However, the import statistics of these countries do not reflect a corresponding increase, leading to speculations that these goods might actually be destined for Moscow.
A case in point is the discrepancy in export and import figures between Turkey and Kazakhstan. Turkish records show an increase of $66 million in exports to Kazakhstan, but Kazakhstan’s own statistics report only a $6 million rise. This disparity raises questions about the final destination of these goods.
This week, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Brian Nelson, responsible for monitoring export restriction violations in the US government, is scheduled to visit Ankara, according to US Department of The Treasury’s official website. This will be his second visit within a year, highlighting the seriousness with which Washington views these developments.
Meanwhile, the European Union is considering measures to tighten control over the supply of dual-use equipment. One proposal, as per the European Commission’s suggestions for the 12th package of sanctions, involves obliging suppliers to more rigorously monitor where their exports end up and to secure them with insurance deposits equal to the delivery amount. However, representatives from a group of major EU states have expressed reservations about the feasibility and legality of this proposal, as reported by Bloomberg.
The situation underscores the complex dynamics of international trade and sanctions, with Turkey’s increased exports of dual-use products spotlighting the challenges in enforcing global export controls and sanctions regimes.
