Biden wants that Turkey renounce the Russian S-400 missile defense system
On Friday, US President Joe Biden’s administration announced that it wants Turkey to abandon the Russian S-400 missile defense system that it bought in 2019, with keeping the line fixed by Donald Trump’s government that imposed rare sanctions on the NATO ally. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby informed reporters: Our position has not changed. We urge Turkey not to retain the S-400 system.
Indeed, Turkey go to Russia after that was failing to made an accord with Barack Obama’s administration about the purchase of US Patriots, which constitute the air defense system of choice for most NATO member states. It was the deliverance of the $2.5 billion S-400 system in challenge of alerting that such military cooperation was incompatible with NATO and would let Russia improve its targeting of Western planes.
In response, Washington has forbidden all US export licenses and loan credits for Turkey’s military procurement agency, the Presidency of Defense Industries. It previously expelled Turkey from joint efforts in developing the F-35 fighter-jet.
Kirby said during a press briefing: Turkey is a longstanding and valued NATO ally, but their decision to purchase the S-400 is inconsistent with Turkey’s commitments as a US and NATO ally. He also indicated that Turkey had multiple opportunities over the last decade to purchase the Patriot defense system from the United States and instead chose to purchase the S-400, which provides Russia revenue, access and influence.
In January, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his hope of reaching a solution with Biden that would allow Ankara to be reintegrated into the F-35 fighter aircraft program. However, contacts between the new American administration and Turkey have been restricted.
On Tuesday, Ankara declared that Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and US national security advisor Jake Sullivan had expressed hopes for greater cooperation; while Biden still had not yet spoken with Erdogan since becoming president.
