TIT-FOR-TAT

Turkey’s Erdogan Orders Retaliatory Sanctions Against U.S.

“We have never bowed our heads to such pressure and will never do so.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered retaliatory sanctions against two U.S. officials after the White House announced punitive measures against two Turkish officials earlier this week. “Those who think that they can make Turkey take a step back with ridiculous sanctions have never known this country or this nation,” Erdogan said during a speech in Ankara on Saturday. “We have never bowed our heads to such pressure and will never do so,” he said. Erdogan said he would have his government “freeze the assets” of the “U.S. justice and interior ministers” in Turkey, though it was not immediately clear if any American officials have assets in Turkey. Tensions have spiked between Ankara and Washington in recent days as U.S. officials push for the release of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor being held in a Turkish prison on espionage charges. Brunson, who has been in Turkish custody for nearly two years, was moved to house arrest recently over health concerns.