Ankara: Turkey will purchase Russian S-400 missile systems despite the threat of US sanctions
Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, stated that Turkey has decided to go ahead with plans to purchase the S-400 Air Defense Systems from Russia despite sanctions imposed by the United States, Radio Liberty reports.
Cavusoglu stressed that the purchase agreement worth 2.5 billion dollars was signed in December and cannot be revised. According to him, Russia is “accelerating the process” of delivering the Russian missile system, as requested by Ankara.
“We have completed the deal for acquiring the S-400,” Cavusoglu stated. “The approach [of the United States] to impose sanctions has no effect on Turkey. Turkey does not accept this.”
Cavusoglu stated that Turkey is ready to acquire other weapons from NATO.
Previously, the United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, warned Turkey against purchasing Russian air-to-surface missiles. He reminded Ankara that it may face sanctions for purchasing the Russian S-400 system.
In December 2017, Turkey’s Deputy Defense Minister announced that the first deliveries of the missile system are scheduled to arrive in early 2020.
As Turkey is a NATO member and S-400 missile systems cannot be integrated into the alliance’s defense, Turkey’s deal with Russia has raised concerns in the West.