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Turkey could be subject to US sanctions if it doesn’t back out from the purchase of S-400 missile defense systems from Russia, US State Department spokesperson Robert Palladino said in a press briefing.
“QUESTION: I have a question on Turkey’s plans to purchase the S-400. How does that stand now, and what will you do if they go ahead with that?
MR PALLADINO: Yeah. We’ve spoken about that before here, Laurie, and the position hasn’t changed. We’ve long made it clear we would like to work collaboratively on air and missile defense with Turkey, and we have offered opportunities for Turkey to consider Patriot among other systems over the years. We’ve also made it clear to Turkey that we have very serious concerns with its stated plans to proceed with the acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.
We’ve clearly warned Turkey that its potential acquisition of the S-400 will result in a reassessment of Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program and risk other potential future arm transfers to Turkey, as well as lead to potential sanctions under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, CAATSA, upon any government entities, private industry, or individuals that are involved in such a transaction.”
On March 6th, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Palmer met with Turkish officials in another effort to block Ankara’s procurement of the S-400. That attempt also met little success.
“I would hope that they [Ankara] reconsider this one decision on S-400,” U.S. General Curtis Scaparrotti told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 5th.
Scaparrotti warned that the sale poses a threat to American systems used by Turkey, “it’s a problem for all of our aircraft, but specifically the F-35, I believe.”
Additionally, on March 4th, in a statement, US Pentagon spokesman Nick Pahon warned that “Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air-defense system will have grave consequences for the U.S. defense relationship with Turkey.”
The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to remove Turkey’s designation under GSP for import benefits is also speculated to be a warning to Ankara.
“It is clear that the general tendency in Washington, D.C., is to punish Turkey for perceived misconduct, which remains a significant threat to the Turkish economy,” said Atilla Yesilada of Global Securities.
Regardless, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his commitment to buy the Russian system. In a television interview on March 6th, he indicated interest in expanding the purchase to Russia’s more advanced S-500 system.
“We concluded the S-400 issue, signed a deal with the Russians, and will start co-production,” Erdogan said. “Later, we may work with S-500s.”
Turkish outlet Daily Sabah also published a report on the possible use of the F-35 and Patriot defense systems as bargaining chips.
In essence, the report claimed that US refuses to hear Turkish officials claims that the S-400 is no threat to any NATO systems and that the relations Turkey has with Russia are separate with those that it has with the US.
These developments and warnings follow Turkey’s decision to reject the possible purchase of US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile systems on February 22nd.
“In parallel to the Patriot negotiations, Washington increases pressure on Ankara for the cancellation of its deal with Russia on the procurement of the S-400 air missile defense systems on the grounds that the system risks NATO security both on political and technical grounds.
In the past few weeks, Washington has been carrying on with a silent diplomacy for its accelerated pressure on Ankara for the cancellation of the S-400 deal. In the latest move, last week, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence conveyed the U.S.’s concerns to Ankara on behalf of President Donald Trump and asked Turkey to abort its S-400 purchase,” Hurriyet reported then
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Why the US is so afraid from the S-400 against their F-35? That will actually be like a christmas tree on the S-400 radar, ah? That F-35 is an imaginary stealth, that it is just an expensive flying brick.Yee I think is that one.
all alleged stealth planes are imaginary, not just F35.
WRONG – the UK F-35Bs are 100% stealth, even our Navy personnel cannot see them on the 2 x aircraft carriers.
i guess then I stand corrected
It was a joke you miserable so and so therefore you need to add LOL.
I know was a joke kiddo, just lack the english humor and lately I am not in a humorous mood any way.
I know, I could tell. Cheers for now.
WTF is wrong with US. Ankara choosed the best product for this job. Without this sort of missiles Russia would stop to exists. US can project power through carriers Russia has to defend against planes. They would buy Patriot if would be better but is not. Just get lost with your Patriot crap!
Turkey: Hey USA, can you help me look less of a slave?
USA: Yes
Turkey: I will order an S-400 from Russia and you try to stop me
USA: Ok
Later that day
Turkey: Hey USA, I am going to buy an S-400
USA: No, Turkey you cant to that.
Turkey: But I can buy whatever I want
USA: But, please don’t buy it
Turkey: I am a strong independent country, you can’t tell me what to do.
USA: Okay ;-( sadface
Turkey: Thanks USA, now I look strong and less of a slave.
the f35 seems to be what the entire west wants, except germany. maybe it is just as good as they say – the combination patriot-system and f35s. unbeatable combo.
you mean blackmailed to have.
What combo? F35 smell a lot like a very expensive weapon which should be protected, maintained, treated like a treasure which became a vulnerability itself not an advantage. I noticed a russian back off from super-duper epic planes like TU50 as may have realised this is not the way to go. Cheap, many units and reliable is the real combo!
F-35 are soooo “invisible”
So why U.S. cant pretend that S-400 is also “invisible” since they can’t do any harm to
their “invisible” F-22, F-35 and B2 ?
The American Catastrophe: Drug, Alcohol, And Suicide Deaths Hit RECORD LEVELS
I have just been reading a variaty of articles regards your comment. 70,000 deaths because of this, 80,000 for that and so on.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-03-07_09-02-25.png?itok=ZnkTzZwK
It is worse than you think.
The first responders are also being killed because of massive amounts of fentanyl hitting the streets. By touching a few grams of it while trying to save a life, they die. It is a man-made chemical and 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
In the last three months enough of it has crossed the southern border of the US to wipe out the entire population. It is coming into Canada too. It is being shipped in by Canada Post in obscene amounts.
Syria is not the only country under attack by chemical weapons. There is an extinction level event happening over here.
I keep banging on about this, watch “Drugs Inc.” on National Geographic where it states exactly what you are but shows it in progress first hand – from the actual dealers to the users with the coppers fighting a losing battle.
PS Learn to up or down tick on peoples comments please.
That is a good video suggestion for others. As for me? I worked front line. ;-)
I only commented about this here because you spoke about this specifically. This is not the type of forum to go on about these types of things. Many here want the North American population wiped out. I do not like to bring them the news that they long to hear. ;-)
Thanks for the interesting response. Understood, Cheers.
I think there are two issues at play: The first has to do with feeding the corrupt military industrial complex; the second with obedience of Empire and keeping allies in line.