Ankara may purchase an additional batch of S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Turkey in ‘talks’ on buying Russian Su-57 jet fighters – Erdogan
STORY: https://t.co/MtaAQtvfca
VIDEO: Russia’s 5th-gen Su-57 in action in Syria (2018) pic.twitter.com/B67XbbIGa9
— RT (@RT_com) August 30, 2019
“Today we need more systems until we can produce our own. And if we can buy from the United States, we will buy Patriots. If not, then we will buy more S-400s,” Sputnik quoted Cavusoglu as having said at a strategic forum in Bled.
“Turkey is an independent country,” he added.
The Turkish military said on August 27 that the second stage of deliveries of the S-400 systems had begun, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that this handover would continue until the end of September.
GVS Analysis: Turkey and US’ F-35
Turkey is currently caught in the quagmire to opting between Russian S400 and the U.S made PATRIOT Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense Systems. While an order for the procurement and installation of former, by October 2019, is already planned, Turkey has not yet closed its negotiations window with the United States over price and transfer technology of PATRIOT missile system, which was Turkey’s first choice.
President Trump, you must sanction Turkey over its purchase of the S-400 air defense system, as required by U.S. law. Turkey’s interests are best served by partnership with the U.S., not the Kremlin.https://t.co/gEk3HF3WpX
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) August 27, 2019
But, the excessive price quoted by the United States, followed by apprehension among the Turkish lawmakers that the bill could finally get vetoed by the U.S Congress over strategic overlapping of both countries’ strategic objectives pushed Erdogan to purchase Russian hardware. United States has made clear that if Turkey goes for S400, it will not be allowed to access the PATRIOT system.
U.S Defense Department then decided that Turkey would not get the much anticipated F35 Lightning II jets after it failed to bow down to U.S pressure of giving up the purchase of Russian S-400 anti-ballistic missile defense system.
Read more: Turkey’s S-400 purchase creates unacceptable risks: US
“Pending an unequivocal Turkish decision to forgo delivery of the S-400, deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey’s F-35 operational capability have been suspended,” Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, a Defense Department spokesman, said in a statement.
RT with additional input by GVS news desk