*ANKARA/ISTANBUL: *
Turkey’s top defence industry official said on Tuesday any US sanctionsagainst Ankara would not affect the country’s several existing projects,including a helicopter deal with Pakistan, but could impact other dealswith Islamabad such as Pakistan Atak helicopter and Hurjet aircraftprojects.
Ismail Demir, the head of Turkey’s Defence Industries Presidency (SSB) saidthat despite new US sanctions, the defence industry would continue to moveforward. “We expect this [sanctions] not to affect our relationships toomuch,” told reporters after speaking to parliament.
The US on Monday imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of theRussian S-400 missile defence system. The sanctions, coming under theCountering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), target theSSB, including Demir, and three other officials.
Starting on January 20, the incoming US President Joe Biden administrationmay also bring changes in policy – positive or negative – and the USsanctions could also trigger sanctions from the EU, Demir said, speaking aday after the US announcement.
The SSB chief underlined that the sanctions should not affect existingprojects, such as the T70 helicopter, but added that the Pakistan Atakhelicopter and Hurjet aircraft projects would probably be affected.
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The sanctions will slow down Turkish defence projects related to the US fora short period, but the Turkish defence industry would take advantage ofthis process and manage to take over production of all critical parts inthe long term, he stressed.
“The development of the domestic industry will continue, perhaps evenfaster. In a sense, this [sanctions] will serve as a flare and a warning,”he said, underlining Turkey’s nearly 70-year NATO membership and Ankara’srelations with fellow members and the US in several areas.
In April 2017, when its protracted efforts to buy an air defense systemfrom the US proved fruitless, Turkey signed a contract with Russia toacquire the S-400 shield. The US opposed their deployment, claiming theywould expose next-generation F-35 jets to possible Russian subterfuge. -Anadolu Agency
