ANKARA – Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian AffairsWess Mitchell earlier warned that Ankara’s purchase of the S-400 missilesfrom Russia could reflect negatively on Washington’s decision to supply theF-35 fifth generation fighter jets to its NATO ally.
“As for the statements made by the US, this is the case of the presidentsof two serious countries [Russia and Turkey] signing the agreement we aretalking about. [S-400 and F-35] are two different things. We are partnerswith the US on the F-35link>and we willcontinue our cooperation on both tracks. We are a sovereign state and wemake decisions, which are in the best interests of our country,” TurkishUndersecretary for the Defense Industry Ismail Demir told Russianjournalists on the sidelines of the Eurasia Airshow in Antalya.
He added that the agreement on the delivery of the S-400s from Russia wasbeing implemented according to plan and that Turkey expects the first batchto arrive in July 2019.
In December 2017, Russian and Turkish representatives inked a loanagreement on the sale of the S-400 systems to Ankara.
According to the Turkish Defense Industry Secretariat, Ankara will buy twobatteries of S-400 missiles, which will be manned by Turkish militarypersonnel.[image: S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft weapon systems during combat duty drillsof the surface to air-misile regiment in the Moscow Region.]Russia also agreed to provide technological know-how for the productionof a new generation of Turkish air defense systems.
Washington is seriously concerned about Ankara’s push to buy Russian S-400link> systems.
In February, an unnamed US official told the Turkish newspaper Haberturkthat this could “negatively influence the interoperability of NATO” andthat the White House may introduce punitive measures in response.
“We want to help Turkey find a better alternative to meet its air defenseneeds,” the official said.
The head of NATO’s cyber defense unit, Christian-Marc Liflander said thatthe S-400 system is not compatible with the air defense systems currentlyused by the alliance.