According to the Financial Times, there is growing concern among the US and the EU regarding the increase in the import of consumer goods from Turkey to Russia. These goods, including microchips and electronic components, are being used by the Russian military, which has raised eyebrows among NATO and CSTO partners. The import of 45 categories of “priority” products from Turkey has disrupted Moscow’s self-reliance on its military capabilities, further escalating tensions between these international alliances.

In recent years, Turkey has seen a surge in the import of these goods, amounting to $158 million. This is a substantial increase compared to previous years, where the average import value was $28 million from 2015 to 2021. Specifically, the import of consumer goods from Turkey, considered a top priority, has witnessed a more than 60% increase compared to the same period in 2015-2021, reaching over $500 million.

However, these goods face restrictions on their entry into Russia imposed by the United States, the EU, Japan, and Great Britain. The goal of these restrictions is to limit their importation into Russia. Nonetheless, companies can bypass these limitations by utilizing intermediary firms to achieve their desired outcomes.

Brian Nichols, the former US ambassador to Russia and now an economic consultant, expressed concern and said to the Financial Times, “We have more leverage with countries like Turkey than we would otherwise want.” Unless Turkey makes changes, Nichols warned that “the US and its partners will be compelled to take compulsory measures.”

It’s worth noting that Russia has been importing billions of euros worth of car parts from the Russian-owned H-D Parts company since the start of the country’s economic downturn.

Meanwhile, in news from Armenia,