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USA: Future US Secretary of State names Turkey "so

2021-01-20T06:28:32.622Z


Anthony Blinken wants to separate US partners from Russia: The new US Secretary of State calls for less cooperation between Turkey and Putin. Germany is to withdraw from the Nordstream 2 pipeline.


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Foreign Secretary-designate Anthony Blinken

Photo: POOL / REUTERS

US President Joe Biden's favorite for the post of foreign minister has brought further sanctions against NATO partner Turkey into play.

At his hearing before the Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, Antony Blinken called Turkey a "so-called strategic partner."

It is unacceptable for a partner to be in agreement with Russia, the United States' greatest strategic competitor.

Before Blinken can take office in Biden's government, the foreign minister-designate has to be confirmed by the Senate.

To this end, he was heard by Congress.

The US has already adopted sanctions against Turkey after the country acquired the Russian S-400 missile defense system.

"I think we need to look at the effects of the existing sanctions and then decide whether more needs to be done," he said.

The Turkish armaments agency SSB, its boss Ismail Demir and three employees are currently the target of the US government's punitive measures. 

Blinken wants to use "every convincing instrument" against Nord Stream 2

In addition, Blinken made it clear in his hearing that the new US administration wants to maintain pressure to prevent the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea.

The government will use "every convincing instrument," said Blinken in Congress.

This should convince all countries, including Germany.

Biden completely agreed with members of Congress that the pipeline was a bad idea.

The USA rejects the construction of the 1200-kilometer tube between Russia and Germany on the grounds that it will make Europe even more dependent on Russian natural gas.

However, the USA also wants to sell gas in Europe itself.

On Tuesday, the outgoing US administration put sanctions against the Russian company KVT-RUS, operator of the transfer ship "Fortuna", into force. 

The New START agreement with Russia to limit nuclear weapons is to be extended, said Blinken.

The signed US President Biden still has to decide how long he wants to extend the contract.

The agreement expires on February 5th and can be extended for a maximum of five years.

New START obliges the USA and Russia not to have more than 1,550 nuclear warheads.

This is the lowest maximum number of contractually agreed nuclear warheads between the US and Russia in decades. 

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mfh / Reuters

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-01-20

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