US Sanctions Defense Industries (SSB); 10 Admirals Arrested for Stirring Up Coup Discussions

LOCAL NEWS

• US sanctions Turkish Defense industries (SSB) as a whole and four individuals including President Ismail Demir, VP Faruk Yigit, Air Defense Head Serhat Gencoglu & Program manager M. Alper Deniz under CAATSA.
  • US govt departments refuse to grant licenses for the export or re-export of technologies to the SSB, while US financial institutions are prohibited from making loans >$10m to the SSB unless aimed at activities to alleviate human suffering
• 10 arrested after prosecutor's office issued arrest warrants for 14 admirals deemed to be behind the declaration signed by 103 admirals stipulating the possibility of withdrawing from the Montreux Convention which stirred up discussions of a military coup on Saturday night.
  • Admirals have allegedly been taken to Ankara from Istanbul and will face charges of conspiracy to commit crimes against the security of the state & constitutional order
• Arrest of Admirals may complicate discussions with EU's Michel & Von der Leyen today where Erdogan is expected to make his case for improving relations with the EU
• AKP lawmaker says Egypt & Turkey are closing in on maritime border deal to lay out the limits of their borders. Local analysts says the signing will leave "no means for the EU to reach the East Med sea"
• AKP Lawmakers release draft law to parliament to raise corporate taxes from 20% to 25% this year then to 23% in 2022. Parliament expected to discuss this week before submitting to general assembly