Washington's pressure on Ankara over the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems is not conducive to constructive dialogue between the countries.

This was stated by the official representative of the President of Turkey Ibrahim Kalyn.

“We had disagreements with Russia on a number of issues, but we were able to resolve them through a constructive dialogue.

Why can't we do the same with the United States?

If another country addresses us from a position of maximalism and with the demand "either this way or nothing", then such an attitude forces us to look in a different direction, "Kalyn said in an interview with Bloomberg.

The Turkish President's spokesman stressed that Ankara "has the right to have S-400 systems that will not be integrated into the NATO security system."

“We can resolve these issues through an open, sincere and constructive dialogue, but the American leadership must understand how important these issues are to us.

They are directly related to our national security.

Turkey's decision on the S-400 was not made overnight, ”Ibrahim Kalyn said.

He also noted that the United States, as part of restrictive measures against Ankara, prevented the supply of Turkish ATAK helicopters to Pakistan.

According to him, most likely, now the Pakistani side will turn to China, which will not benefit Washington.

Sanctions differences

Recall that in December 2020, Washington imposed sanctions against Turkey for the purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia within the framework of the Law on Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions (CAATSA).

Restrictive measures were introduced by the US authorities against the Turkish Defense Industry Directorate, its leader and three Turkish citizens.

In response, the republic's Foreign Ministry condemned Washington's actions and promised to introduce retaliatory measures.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the US intentions to impose sanctions on the purchase of the S-400 are a manifestation of disrespect for a NATO ally.

  • SAM S-400

  • © RIA Novosti / Dmitry Vinogradov

Since Ankara and Moscow signed a contract for the supply of S-400 complexes in 2017, Washington has repeatedly tried to force the Turkish side to abandon the deal.

During the Donald Trump administration, Turkey was excluded from the F-35 fifth generation fighter program.

Turkish companies have been participating in the fighter aircraft production program since 2002 and have supplied some units for these aircraft.

In addition, in 2019, American senators prepared a bill prohibiting the sale of fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Turkey if it buys the S-400 air defense system from Russia.

Senators noted that the use of the S-400 along with American aircraft jeopardizes the secrecy of the technologies and operations of the US Air Force.

Under the contract with the United States, Ankara was supposed to receive about 100 F-35 fighters from 2018 - ten vehicles every year for ten years.

In July 2020, the American edition of Defense News reported that eight F-35A intended for Turkey, which are in varying degrees of readiness, will be purchased from the US Air Force from Lockheed Martin.

Six more aircraft will be partially modified to meet American standards.

Also in the United States, the training program for Turkish Air Force pilots to control these aircraft was terminated.

Saving course

Statements by officials from the Joe Biden administration indicate that the new government in Washington intends to maintain a course of pressure on Ankara and will continue to force Turkey to abandon the Russian S-400.

So, in early February, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that the position of the US military department on this issue has not changed and Turkey will not be returned to the F-35 program.

  • Pentagon spokesman John Kirby

  • © US Marine Corps Sgt.

    Aaron hostutle

"Turkey is a long-standing and valuable NATO member, but its decision to acquire the S-400 runs counter to its obligations as a US and NATO ally," Kirby said at a news conference.

The Pentagon spokesman added that over the past ten years "Turkey has had many opportunities to acquire the Patriot system from the United States, but it has decided to buy the S-400," which plays into Russia's hands.

A similar position was later expressed in the US State Department, where they stated that Russian complexes threaten NATO's security.

In particular, this was announced by the official representative of the department, Ned Price, in response to a question from journalists about possible compromise options offered by Turkey.

"The Russian S-400 systems are incompatible with NATO equipment, they threaten the security of the alliance's technologies, and the possession of them does not meet the obligations of Turkey as a NATO ally," the State Department spokesman said.

In mid-February, the American Foreign Ministry announced a telephone conversation between the head of the State Department, Anthony Blinken, and the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Mevlut Cavusoglu.

As part of this conversation, Blinken again urged Ankara not to keep the Russian S-400 systems, the ministry said.

Political analyst Alexander Asafov noted that the US position is explained by the unwillingness to put up with the intention of other countries to buy weapons from Russia.

“For the United States, primacy in the arms market is fundamental.

Therefore, a situation in which a country makes a choice not in favor of American weapons, but of Russian systems, appears to be a reputational risk.

After all, other buyers may follow this example, especially considering that the S-400 is objectively better than the outdated American Patriot systems, ”the political scientist emphasized.

In turn, the head of the department of international organizations and world political processes at the Faculty of World Politics at Moscow State University, Andrei Sidorov, in an interview with RT, noted that Ankara rightly calls US actions against it disproportionate.

“Turkey rightly believes that the United States has taken a maximalist position, acting directly and publicly, instead of not exacerbating this issue and letting it go on the brakes.

This position of the new Biden administration can be explained by the desire to consolidate alliances and military blocs under the leadership of Washington and at the same time demonstrate to the allies that the United States has “returned” and their opinion should be listened to, ”the expert noted.

The main irritant for the United States here is Turkey's cooperation with Russia, which was designated as an enemy of Washington in the American national security strategy, added Andrei Sidorov.

However, Turkey wants to demonstrate sovereignty and independence, and after Washington rejected the compromise options offered by the Turkish side, announced the possibility of purchasing additional S-400s, the political scientist recalled.

“There is talk that Turkey may acquire another S-400 regiment.

Ankara wants to demonstrate that, despite the restrictions imposed on it by NATO membership, it is a completely independent unit in making such decisions.

In addition, if Turkey now yields to direct and open pressure from the United States, it will mean a drop in prestige, demonstrate that Ankara has limited sovereignty, which is unacceptable for Erdogan, ”concluded Andrei Sidorov.