Foreign Minister Cavusoglu Emphasized Turkey's Not Exporting Goods That Russia Can Use In War

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu with Foreign Minister Antony Blinken. (Twitter @SecBlinken)

JAKARTA - Turkey does not export products that Russia can use in warfare, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday, following a US warning this month of exports of chemicals, microchips and other items.

"It is not true that we have exported to Russia products that can be used in the defense industry," Menu Cavusoglu said.

"We ask the United States to notify (we) if there are violations in this matter," he continued.

Speaking after meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Ankara, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu also said Turkey would not allow US and European sanctions to be violated "via" Turkey, and Ankara took steps to prevent it.

Earlier, a top US Treasury Department official visited Turkish government and private sector officials earlier this month to encourage more cooperation in disrupting the flow of goods that could be used by the Moscow defense industry.

It is known that Western countries implemented export controls and sanctions following the Moscow invasion nearly a year ago. However, supply channels remain open from Hong Kong, Turkey and other trade centers.

Ankara chose to balance his good relations with Moscow and Kyiv during the war, held initial talks between the two sides and helped mediate the deal for the delivery of grains from Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Cavusoglu added that Turkey would act if a violation was detected, adding that the increase in Turkish trade with Russia was largely driven by large imports of gas and energy from Ankara, whose costs tripled.