US sanctions against Turkey would not affect the latter’s existing defensecommitments with Pakistan, the Head of Defence Industries Presidency (SSB),apex Turkish government agency that manages the country’s defense industry,Ismail Demir has said.
Ismail Demir’s remarks come a day after the US imposed sanctions on Turkeyfor procuring the Russian S-400 missile system instead of the American-madeRaytheon’s Patriot missile system.——————————
While addressing a press conference after briefing the Turkish Parliament,Demir warned that US sanctions could impact Ankara’s other deals withPakistan which includes Atak helicopter and Hurjet aircraft projects.
However, Turkey will move forward to fulfill its bilateral defenseagreements with Pakistan despite the US sanctions, noted Demir.
When asked about the future of Turkey’s domestic defense production, headded these sanctions will serve as a flare and the development of thedomestic industry will expedite.
In 2017, Turkey had purchased the Russian S-400 long-range surface-to-airmissile system through sanctioned Russian export entity Rosoboronexport.Turkey received the first associated delivery last July and tested thesystem in October this year.——————————
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On Monday, the US announced the sanctions against Turkey under theCountering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), makingTurkey the first NATO member country to face US sanctions under the CAATSAlaw.
Previously, the US had removed Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program,claiming that Turkey’s S-400 would be incompatible with NATO systems andwould expose the next-generation F-35 jets to possible Russian trickery.
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