Turkey says does not expect US sanctions over S-400 missile systems under Biden

A high-ranking official from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) says Ankara does not anticipate Washington’s sanctions over its purchase of Russian-made S-400 defense missile systems after US president-elect Joe Biden takes office.

“The US president will most likely watch the balance in the Middle East very carefully for US interests, and will not want to continue the tense ties with Turkey ... I believe they will take positive steps in the future,” AK Party Deputy Chairman Numan Kurtulmus said in an interview with Reuters news agency on Thursday.

Kurtulmus highlighted that Turkey would not bow to pressure to return the Russian missile systems, or leave them unused.

“Sorry, but we didn't procure these to hide them. We got them to meet Turkey's security needs,” he said.

Turkey will use S-400 as stand-alone air defense system

Turkey says it will use the S-400 Russian air defense missile system as stand-alone rather than integrating it into the NATO

Late last month, a US State Department official warned that Turkey faces a “very real” risk of sanctions after Ankara tested its Russian-made S-400 air defense system.

“That risk is very real because they... continue to pursue the S-400,” R Clarke Cooper, a senior State Department official in charge of arms sales, said on October 28.

He added, “And, of course, with the testing of it, sanctions is very much something that is on the table.”

Earlier, Turkey conducted its first test of the S-400 system in the town of Sinop, which lies on the northernmost edge of the Black Sea coast. The test came despite months of warnings from the US that the system is incompatible with NATO defenses, and could pose a threat to Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets.

There are speculations of US sanctions early next year if Congress approves a defense spending bill, which the House of Representatives has already voted to include language requiring the president to sanction Turkey.

Some experts believe that Turkey relied on the good personal ties between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, to smooth over divisions, but Biden is expected to be tougher on Turkey over foreign and defense policies and Ankara's human rights record.

On November 12, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar downplayed concerns over his country's intention to utilize S-400 air defense systems, saying Ankara will use the armament just as other members of the NATO military alliance employ their S-300 defense systems.

Akar told members of the Turkish parliament's Planning and Budget Committee that Ankara would continue on the control and preparation process of the S-400 system "as planned."

Turkey’s S-400 batteries not to be integrated into NATO systems: Defense minister

Turkish defense minister says his country’s S-400 air defense systems will not be integrated into NATO systems

He then called on the United States to form a joint working group on the compatibility of the S-400 system and F-35 stealth fighter jets.

Back in April 2018, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said in Ankara that they had agreed to expedite the delivery of the S-400. At the time, it was said that the delivery could be made between late 2019 and early 2020.

The United States is categorically against Turkey’s purchase and suspended Turkey’s participation in the joint production of the fifth generation F-35 fighters.

The S-400 is an advanced Russian missile defense system designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as 402 kilometers away. It has previously been sold only to China and India.

Ankara is striving to boost its air defense, particularly after Washington decided in 2015 to withdraw its Patriot surface-to-air missile system from Turkish border with Syria, a move that weakened Turkey’s air defense.

Before gravitating towards Russia, the Turkish military reportedly walked out of a $3.4-billion contract for a similar Chinese system. The withdrawal took place under purported pressure from Washington.

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