BRUSSELS/ANKARA, May 29 (WNM staff/Newswires) - NATO is concerned about a looming showdown between the U.S. and Turkey about the purchase of Russian S-400 missiles from Russia.
A NATO official told The World News Monitor an Wednesday:
“It is up to Allies to decide what military equipment they buy, but at the same time we are concerned about the potential consequences of Turkey’s decision to buy S-400. The United States has made it clear that they will impose sanctions should Turkey go-ahead with the purchase. It is in the interest of all to avoid such a situation. What matters for NATO is that the equipment Allies acquire is able to operate together. Interoperability of our armed forces is fundamental to NATO for the conduct of our operations. We welcome that Turkey is working with France and Italy on developing a long-range air and missile defence system and that Turkey and the United States are in dialogue about the possible acquisition of Patriot air defence missiles”.
Ties between the NATO allies have recently been shaky over Ankara's decision to purchase the Russian S-400 missile system, which Washington says could compromise its F-35 fighter jets. Last week, CNBC reported: "By the end of the first week of June, Turkey must cancel a multibillion-dollar deal with Russia and instead buy Raytheon’s U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system — or face removal from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program, forfeiture of 100 promised F-35 jets, imposition of U.S. sanctions and potential blowback from NATO."
Turkey has suggested that the two countries form a working group that would asses the potential impact of the S-400s on the F-35 aircraft but has yet to hear back from the United States.
During Wednesday's call, Erdogan reiterated to Trump Turkey's offer to form the working group, Fahrettin Altun, the Turkish communications director, said via Twitter.
According to Ilhan Tanir from Turkish outlet Ahval News, the U.S. State department has offered the Turkish side to open negotiations about a potential purchase of the Patriot systems. In December 2018, the U.S. approved the sale of Patriot defense systems worth $ 3.5 billion. Accordfing to Ahval, this proposal is still on the table and the deadline for it's expiry is the first half of June.
Washington has threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey if it goes through with the purchase of the Russian missile system, a move that would likely damage Turkey's economy. The lira has already declined about 14% this year in part on concerns over the potential sanctions.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed during a phone call on Wednesday to meet on the sidelines of a G20 meeting set for June 28-29 in Japan, the Turkish Presidency's communications director said in posts on Twitter.
The two leaders discussed issues such as boosting mutual trade, Turkey's planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system and "the opportunity to continue the discussion" during the G20 summit, Judd Deere, White House spokesman said in an email.
Russia wants to get the deal done
The timeframe for the delivery of Russian-made S-400 ‘Triumf’ surface-to-air missile systems to Turkey remains unchanged, the press office of Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport said in a statement on Wednesday.
“There are no changes in the deliveries of Russian S-400 air defense systems to Turkey and the project is being implemented within the timeframe agreed by the parties,” the company said.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that there were no delays in delivering the S-400 missile systems to Turkey. The Russian presidential spokesman also said that the S-400 systems could be delivered to Turkey even ahead of the schedule.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on May 29 that Russian technical specialists would pay a visit to Turkey to help putting S-400 missile systems into operation.
Speaking about the timeframe for the delivery of the Russian-made systems to his country, the defense minister said that “they may not be delivered in June, they are expected to arrive in the coming months.” “The process has started,” he said.
The first reports about the talks between Russia and Turkey on the deliveries of S-400 air defense missile systems emerged in November 2016. Russia confirmed in September 2017 that the relevant contract had been signed. Turkish Defense Minister Akar earlier said that the deployment of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems would begin in October 2019. Rostec CEO Chemezov said in December 2017 that the S-400 deal was worth $2.5 billion.
The S-400 ‘Triumf’ is the most advanced long-range air defense missile system Russia has. It went into service in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km. U.S. president Donald Trump want the Turkish government to buy Raytheon's Patriot instead.