Turkish officials denounced a US decision to impose sanctions on Turkeyover its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.

Criticizing the move, Vice President Fuat Oktay said the sanctions willonly boost the country’s determination to strengthen its national interestsand defense industry under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“No country’s sanctions will sway Turkey’s determined stance. We condemnthis decision and call on the US to step back from this mistake as soon aspossible,” Oktay said on Twitter.

Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop said the sanctions ill fit the spirit ofalliance. “We will continue to take every step with determination necessaryfor the defense of our country,” he said on Twitter.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also stressed Turkey’s determinedstance in the face of sanctions, adding that Turkey will decisivelycontinue to take steps to achieve its defense industry goals.

“No decision taken abroad towards myself or our institutions will changethe stance of me or my team,” Ismail Demir, head of Turkey’s DefenseIndustry Presidency — which the sanctions specifically target — tweetedafter the sanctions announcement.