The President of Turkey has also proposed to the US to impose sanctions which Washington threatens Ankara with the signing of the contract for the supply of C-400 to the Republic.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan confirmed on Sunday that Ankara has no intention of abandoning the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems it has purchased from Russia.
Erdogan also proposed the USA to introduce sanctions, which Turkey’s overseas partner threatens to impose from the moment of signing the contract for the supply of C-400 to the republic. “Whatever the sanctions, do not be late, introduce them,” said the President.
Besides, Erdogan has reminded, that Turkey “has paid money for [the American fighters of the fifth generation] F-35, however the USA has not delivered them to it”.
On Friday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that tests of the S-400 were conducted on 16 October. Erdogan noted that Turkey intends to continue testing S-400s without taking into account the US position on this issue. Even before the Turkish president confirmed the information about the testing of Russian man-portable air defence systems, the State Department argued that such actions were in contradiction with Turkey’s NATO commitments. In turn, the Turkish Ministry of Defense on Saturday rejected these accusations by the American side.
Russia and Turkey signed a contract in 2017 for the supply of S-400 complexes by Moscow to Ankara. Turkey was the first NATO country to acquire these systems from Russia. Ankara’s decision caused a sharply negative reaction from Washington and the alliance as a whole. The United States does not abandon attempts to get Turkey to abandon Russian SAM systems. Washington has excluded Ankara from the American F-35 production programme. In addition, the United States threatens Turkey with sanctions for purchasing S-400, but is not in a hurry to do so, as it fears further aggravation of relations with an important NATO ally. Ankara warns that it will not leave such restrictions unanswered.