The Turkish Agenda Telegram channel reports that Ankara and Moscow have already completed negotiations on the supply of the second batch of S-400 air defense systems, but Turkey may refuse a second contract in a step.
A publication on the Middle East Eye portal claims that Russia and Turkey have fully completed negotiations on the delivery of the second batch of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system and only a final signature is required to complete the contract.
“This deal puts Ankara now in a very difficult position, because Russia has only agreed to the technology transfer so much desired by Erdogan and the terms of joint production in the second consignment of supplies”, – said one of the high-ranking Turkish officials.
The author of the Telegram channel “Turkey’s Agenda” emphasizes that for the first time, Turkish sources spoke about “the possibility of transferring technology after the second contract”. Earlier this was noted only by the Russian side.
“The situation is really difficult, because if the second contract is canceled, the first one becomes meaningless in terms of explaining to the Turkish audience the argument: we did not buy from the Americans because they refused to transfer technology. It turns out that they bought the S-400, but there will still be no transfer of technology, so they did not fulfill the terms of the contract in the form of a second deal”, – the author of the Telegram channel believes.
It is also noted that Bloomberg, citing two Turkish officials, reported that Ankara is ready to abandon the purchase of the S-400 air defense system, provided that the United States ceases to cooperate with the Kurds from the YPG in Syria.