Turkey will not abandon the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, even if the United States imposes sanctions. This was stated by the special adviser to the President of Turkey- Ibrahim Kalin.
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U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday approved a bill to impose sanctions on Turkey because of its military operations in Syria and the purchase of Russia air defense system.
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“This bill makes clear to #Turkey that its behavior with respect to #Syria is unacceptable, and its purchase of the S400 system is untenable,” Senator Robert Menendez, who is also the ranking member of the committee, said on his twitter.
U.S. lawmakers from both parties have been making efforts to push the Trump administration to punish Ankara for its S-400 deal with Russia. In a letter earlier this month, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to implement sanctions on Turkey according to U.S. law.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday that Turkey would retaliate if the United States takes steps against it.
“Members of the U.S. Congress need to understand that they cannot achieve anything by imposition,” he said in a televised interview with the A News Channel.
Asked if Turkey will respond, the minister said Ankara would assess the steps it will take in the case of the worst scenario, including the halting of the use of the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey and Kurecik radar system of NATO.
The S-400 missile system has been a major thorn in the U.S.-Turkey relationship after Turkey signed a 2.5 billion U.S. dollar agreement with Russia to purchase S-400 missile batteries in 2017, and began taking deliveries in July this year.
In response, Washington removed Ankara from its F-35 fighter jet program, in which Turkey is a buyer and manufacturer, for fear that the Turkish move might enable Russia to obtain sensitive information on the aircraft.
“The document [on sanctions] after the Congress will be delivered to US President Donald Trump. We know that he is positive about us. But [introducing restrictions] will not have any effect on our [deployment] S-400,” said Kalin to NTV channel.
He also recalled that the systems will be under the full control of the Turkish military.
Earlier, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a bill to impose sanctions on Turkey because of its military operations in Syria and the purchase of Russia air defence system.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the bill “Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of ISIS Act” in a vote of 18 to 4, sending the bill to the full Senate.
“This bill makes clear to Turkey that its behaviour with respect to Syria is unacceptable, and its purchase of the S400 system is untenable,” Senator Robert Menendez, who is also the ranking member of the committee tweeted.
U.S. lawmakers from both parties have been making efforts to push the Trump administration to punish Ankara for its S-400 deal with Russia. In a letter earlier this month, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen prompted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to complete sanctions on Turkey according to U.S. law.
The S-400 missile system has been a major issue in the U.S.-Turkey relationship after Ankara signed a 2.5 billion dollar agreement with Russia to purchase S-400 missiles.
In response, Washington kicked-out Ankara from its F-35 fighter jet program, in which Turkey is a buyer and manufacturer, for fear that the Turkish move might permit Russia to obtain sensitive information on the aircraft.
