Turkey intends to acquire Russian S-400 S-400, despite the opposition of the United States. This was stated by the President of the Republic Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“We made a deal with Russia on the C-400. Therefore, there can be no question of any step backwards. The question is closed, ”the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet quotes Erdogan as saying. The President said that the C-400 is scheduled to be deployed in July, as planned. Work in this direction is underway, the Turkish leader assured.

Recall, the contract for the supply of four divisions S-400 Moscow and Ankara concluded in December 2017. The amount of the transaction is $ 2.5 billion. After that, Washington expressed concern about Turkey’s purchase of the Russian system and offered Ankara to buy Patriot air defense systems in the amount of $ 3.5 billion, abandoning C-400. However, Turkey was not satisfied with the terms of the transaction.

Erdogan again focused on the reasons why they decided to abandon the American systems. According to him, Turkey insisted on granting a loan, arranging joint production and early delivery, but Washington was able to satisfy only one condition.

"Despite the fact that they (USA. - RT ) have a positive attitude to early deliveries, they cannot guarantee the provision of credit and joint production," Erdogan told reporters.

At the same time, the Turkish president added that he was still open to buying a Patriot, but the deal should be in Ankara’s interests.

Turkey’s commitment to agreeing on the S-400 is connected not only with the efficiency of the Russian system compared to the American one, but also with the issue of independence of foreign policy, said a senior researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, director of the Institute of Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea-Caspian Region Victor Nadein-Rayevsky.

“Turkey has positioned itself in this way for more than one year and although it does not withdraw from NATO, it’s not going to compromise on its principles of independence and independence in decision-making,” said the expert in an interview with RT.

According to him, Turkey’s participation in the F-35 fighter program gives Ankara the opportunity to set its own conditions. Nadein-Rajewski noted that the aircraft is manufactured as part of a private company, and Turkey participates in the work, which produces a number of key parts for this machine.

“If Turkey is thrown out of the project and the planes are not given them, then in this case it will be necessary to look for a technological replacement for Turkish manufacturers. This will delay the launch of all models and lead to large losses. The United States understands this very well, ”the expert concluded.

"Turkey is a key US military ally"

Earlier, Erdogan said that the US is putting pressure on Turkey in connection with the purchase of Russian systems C-400. The Turkish leader mentioned this on February 14 before negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A few days before, the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, said that Washington was calling on Ankara not to buy Russian missile defense systems.

"We are very concerned about any kind of Russian (system. - RT ) missile defense in an ally," RIA Novosti quoted Hutchison as saying.

One of the risks for Turkey is sanctions under the CAATSA Act (“On Countering America’s Opponents through Sanctions.” - RT). According to this document, the United States may impose second-level restrictive measures against countries involved in transactions with companies from Iran, Russia and the DPRK, which are under US sanctions.

On February 16, during the Munich Conference, US Vice President Mike Pence spoke about the inadmissibility of NATO members acquiring weapons from opponents.

  • Mike pence
  • AFP
  • © Thomas KIENZLE

“We made it clear that we will not stand with folded arms when NATO allies will buy weapons from our opponents,” said Pence.

The United States is more likely to intimidate Turkey, rather than planning specific sanctions, said Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies.

“Any sanctions against it will mean a certain point of no return, for the United States it is much more dangerous. Today, Turkey is a key US military ally ... If they lose this position, it will be in demand in other geopolitical and regional contexts, ”said the expert in an interview with RT.

According to him, Turkey will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy, because it considers itself strong enough not to pay attention to American threats.

“Turkey perceives threats to Pens correctly and, on their basis, will neither cancel transactions with Russia nor, on the contrary, try to quickly spoil relations with the United States. The situation will last long enough, and American leaders will do everything possible not to end relations with Turkey, ”concluded the expert.

Vladimir Batyuk, Chief Researcher at the Institute of the USA and Canada, is sure that the statement from Penza should also be considered outside the context of Turkey.

“Obviously, this statement is addressed to other NATO countries, if they want to buy Russian or Chinese weapons,” Batiuk said. He stressed that before the United States did not express much dissatisfaction in such scenarios, but now the situation has changed.

"America is worried about the fact that it has serious competitors in the international arms market," the expert concluded.