The US has sent out a stern warning to Turkey over its plan to buy Russian S-400 air defense missile systems. US has warned Ankara that purchase of S-400 air defense missile systems will dramatically affect military ties between the two NATO allies.
India Play Russian “Trump Card” to Defy Threats from Donald Trump over S-400
Pentagon Spokesperson Eric Pahon told Turkey’s Ahval news agency in a written statement on Monday that the US understands Turkey’s desire to improve its air defense. The senior American defense official further noted that the United States is “working to help Turkey find better solutions to address its defense needs while also warning of the broader implications of purchasing Russian S-400s.”
Last week, acting Pentagon chief Pat Shanahan delivered a similar warning to Turkey, emphasizing that the purchase could result in Ankara’s exclusion from the program to build and operate F-35 advanced fighter jets.
Washington has reportedly proposed to deliver one US-made Patriot missile system by the end of 2019, on the condition that Ankara abandons the deal with Moscow.
Two senior Turkish officials familiar with the talks, requesting anonymity, said on Friday that Turkey has rejected the offer as it didn’t include a loan agreement nor a technology-sharing pact.
Moscow and Ankara finalized an agreement on the delivery of the S-400 missile systems in December 2017.
Back in April last year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said in Ankara that they had agreed to expedite the delivery of S-400 missile systems. At the time it was said that the delivery could be made between late 2019 and early 2020.
1st Batch of S-400 Missiles To India Will Be Delivered by 2020: Russia
A number of the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states have criticized Turkey for its planned purchase of S-400 missile defense systems from Russia, stating that the missile batteries are not compatible with those of the military alliance.
They also argue that the purchase could jeopardize Ankara’s acquisition of F-35 fighter jets and possibly result in US sanctions.
S-400 is an advanced Russian missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as 402 kilometers away. It has previously been sold only to China and India.
Turkey is striving to boost its air defense, particularly after Washington decided in 2015 to withdraw its Patriot surface-to-air missile system from Turkey’s border with Syria, a move that weakened Turkey’s air defense.
Before gravitating towards Russia, the Turkish military reportedly walked out of a $3.4 billion contract for a similar Chinese system. The withdrawal took place under purported pressure from Washington.
Ankara’s ties with its Western allies in NATO have been strained over a range of issues. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been critical of Washington for supporting Kurdish groups in Syria that he says are responsible for terror attacks inside Turkey.
He has also slammed American officials for rejecting his requests to hand over Fethullah Gulen, a powerful opposition figure living in the US, whom Ankara accuses of having masterminded the July 2016 coup attempt, among other issues.
More News at EurAsian Times
- Indian Military Base in Sabang can Strangle China at the Strait of Malacca
- Why is Japan Unhappy with Bullet Train Project in India?
- Is Saudi-UAE Alliance Working to Weaken the Gulf Cooperation Council?
- India-Japan Defence Partnership Aggressively Countering China
- Oman-UAE Relations Deteriorate; Muscat Warns Against Testing Patience
