Stoltenberg: It will be difficult for Turkey to integrate Russian S-400 into NATO’s system
It will be difficult for Turkey to integrate Russian S-400 missile systems into NATO’s air defense system, as stated by NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference in Brussels, a correspondent of Evropeyskaya Pravda reports.
According to him, during the ministerial meeting, Turkey’s air defense was discussed and it has been said that NATO is strengthening it by deploying their Patriot batteries.
"We have discussed the situation with the acquisition of the S-400 complex but most of the time was devoted to discussing Turkey’s air defense and progress in the conclusion of an agreement with the Franco-Italian consortium, Eurosam, to purchase these systems from allies. They signed a memorandum of understanding and started working,” Stoltenberg said.
"Of course, every State decides itself what air defense to buy. But it is important for NATO that it will be integrated into the Alliance’s air defense system. It is apparent that Eurosam is easy to integrate and although there were no requests for S-400 which would be more difficult to integrate," he noted.
In September 2017, the President of Turkey informed that Ankara signed an agreement with Moscow for the purchase of S-400 anti-missile systems and already made a down payment.
NATO warned Turkey about the purchasing of Russian S-400 systems and noted that Turkey, which is a member of the Alliance, should be ready for the "consequences."
The S-400 Triumph is a Russian long range anti-aircraft weapon system which was put into service in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft and cruise and ballistic missiles including medium range ones and can also be used to attack ground targets.