Expert assesses possibility of Turkey's refusal from S-400 due to the US sanctions

15 December 2020

 

The US anti-Turkish sanctions are aimed mostly at potential buyers of Russian S-400 air defense systems and are unlikely to force Turkey to give up its already second contract with Russia, Igor Korotchenko, the Director of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT), told RIA Novosti.


Earlier, the US imposed sanctions against the Turkish Defense Industry Secretariat and its head Ismail Demir, as well as against three more officials in Turkey for Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems.


"The sanctions imposed by Washington against Turkey are a vivid example of unfair competition of the United States in the global arms market. The main task of these sanctions is to warn other countries that the purchase of Russian long-range S-400 systems may be fraught with relevant actions by the United States," Korotchenko said.


According to him, similar US Patriot systems "are losing in all major indicators" to Russian systems. Therefore, the US, unable to compete fairly, is using sanctions mechanisms.

 

 

"At the same time, on the part of the US competition comes by the method of demonstrating a cudgel, with which they will hit all those states and government officials, political leaders who opt for S-400," the expert said.


"Nevertheless, I believe that in practical terms this will in no way affect Turkey's desire to conclude already the second contract for the purchase of S-400, which is currently being discussed," Korotchenko added.


He also reminded that several contracts for the supply of S-400 to a number of states that remain committed to military-technical cooperation with Russia, "despite Washington's displeasure."


Deliveries of Russia's latest S-400 air defense systems, which caused a crisis in Turkey's relations with the United States, began in mid-July 2019. Washington demanded to cancel the deal and buy American Patriot systems in return, threatening to delay or cancel the sale of the latest F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, as well as impose sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). Ankara refused to make concessions and continued negotiations on an additional batch of S-400s.

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