US Defense Secretary calls for sanctions exemption for countries buying Russian weapons

vietnamplus.vn• July 22, 2018 07:22

US Defense Secretary James Mattis said that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should be given the authority to order the lifting of sanctions against some countries that buy defense equipment from Russia.

Russia's S-300 missile system. Source: Sputnik

In a statement released on July 20, the Pentagon chief stressed that these exemptions will allow countries that are buying Russian defense products to "build closer security relationships with the United States as they continue to transition away from dependence on Russian military equipment."

Sanctions against countries that buy Russian defense products are provided for in the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), passed by US lawmakers last summer, and also target Iran and North Korea.

In Mr. Mattis's view, the core issue is whether the US wants to strengthen "partners in key regions or leave them with no choice but to turn to Russia"./.