ANKARA- Ankara failed to agree with Washington on the transfer oftechnology related to the Patriot missile systems, which is why it hassigned an agreement to be supplied with Russia’s S-400 missiles, accordingto the Turkish presidential spokesman.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily Newslink>citedIbrahim Kalin, the Turkish President’s spokesman as saying that “workfor delivery of Russian S-400 missile defense systems within 2019 has beenfinalized,” which is not the case with the US Patriot interceptors.
Singling out “objective criteria” on purchasing foreign air defenses, Kalinspecifically stressed Ankara’s priority pertaining to the joint productionof such systems.
“We could not agree with the production company of the Patriots [duringprevious talks],”while the Russian side has “taken quicker steps,” heunderscored.
Kalin made it plain that Ankara would go ahead with talks on the purchaseof the Patriot systems if Washington “meets the required conditions.”According to him, “the ball is in the US’ court.”
Two soldiers run toward Patriot antimissile systems. File photo
Kalin also said that Turkey’s NATO membership will not affect Ankaraacquiring the S-400 systems, which he recalled are being purchasedfor defense purposes. According to him, it will not pose a threat to thealliance.
Speaking at a press conference after his talks with Turkish counterpartRecep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putinsaid that Moscow and Ankara have agreed to speed up the delivery of theS-400 systems to Turkey.
In December 2017, Russia and Turkey signed a loan agreement on the purchaseof the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems.
The deal stipulates that Russia will supply Turkey with four batteriesof the S-400s, to be maintained by Turkish personnel. The initial deliveryof the batteries to Ankara is planned for the first quarter of 2020.
The parties also agreed on technological cooperation in order to developthe production of similar missile systems in Turkey.
Late in February, the Turkish newspaper Haberturklink> cited an unnamed US official as saying thatWashington is concerned about Ankara’s push to buy Russian S-400 systems.
The official warned that it may “negatively influence the interoperabilityof NATO” and that the White House may introduce punitive measuresin response.
“We want to help Turkey find a better alternative to meet its air defenseneeds,” the official said.
Earlier, it was reported that Washington is doing its best to prompt Ankarato buy the Patriot systems instead of the S-400s.