Turkey has sharply increased its exports of military-related goods to Russia this year, which is causing concern in the West, the Financial Times reports.

In the first nine months of 2023, Turkey exported $158 million worth of goods in 45 categories that the United States considers "high priority" for the Russian defense industry. This is three times more than in the same period in 2022. The average figure for the period 2015-2021 was $28 million.

According to the documents, dual-use parts go to third countries of the former USSR - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. However, the statistical agencies of these countries did not record a corresponding increase in imports. In the West, it is considered "obvious" that the supplies were actually redirected to Russia.

The use of intermediary structures allows Turkey to formally circumvent Western export controls. At the same time, Ankara purchases these high-priority goods from the G7 countries. Their imports in 2023 increased by more than 60%.

According to the publication's sources, the United States is already calling on Turkey to stop these supplies, and "coercive measures" may be taken.