US warns Turkey about consequences of buying S-400 missile systems from Russia
If Turkey buys the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, the USA will block a deal to sell the fifth generation F-35 fighter aircraft, claimed the Head of the Turkish Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Volkan Bozkir after his visit to the USA.
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet quotes him as saying, "Congress has a desire to link the issue of Turkey's purchase of Russian systems with the sale of F-35s." He added that "the senators are not saying this openly, but during conversations with their advisors, such a signal was received."
According to Turkish National Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli, the deliveries of F-35 aircraft to the country will begin next year and but that issue is unrelated to the purchase of the anti-aircraft missiles. The contract with the Russian Federation involves the sale of four divisions in the amount of $2.5 billion to Ankara, with more than half of the amount being covered by a Russian loan. The deliveries are expected to begin in March 2020.