Ismail Demir, head of Turkey's Defense Industry Directorate, confirmed on Wednesday that Ankara continues to consider purchasing the second regiment of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs) from Russia, despite pressure from the United States.
"Our work on the second [regiment] of S-400 systems continues," he stressed in an interview with NTV.
According to Demir, Turkey is also working to strengthen its armed forces by developing its own defense systems. "This year, deliveries of the Sungur and Hisar A+ systems will begin, and the development of the domestic Siper air defense system continues," he added.
Demir noted that Turkey has so far not noticed any consequences for itself after US sanctions were imposed because of the purchase of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs) from Russia.
"We haven't noticed any direct effect [from US sanctions]. We will see how CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act - TASS) will work, but at the moment there are no clear consequences, we will wait," he said.
Demir also called the US position on the topic wrong. "If they think this will dissuade us from making any of our national decisions, they think wrong," the defense chief said.
On December 14, 2020, US authorities announced restrictions against the Turkish Defense Industry Authority, its head and three other citizens of the republic - Mustafa Alper Deniz, Serhat Gencoglu and Farouk Yigit - under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). According to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, the restrictions send a "clear signal" that the US will "fully enforce CAATSA" and "will not tolerate significant deals with the Russian defense and intelligence sectors."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the US sanctions and promised to retaliate. The Foreign Ministry also stressed that Ankara "will not refrain from taking measures it considers necessary for ensuring its national security".
Earlier Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stressed that Washington's intention to impose sanctions against Ankara over its purchase of Russian S-400 is a sign of disrespect for its important NATO partner.
S-400 purchase
Russia and Turkey signed a contract in 2017 for Moscow to supply Ankara with S-400 systems. Turkey was the first NATO country to purchase these systems from Russia. Ankara's decision caused a sharply negative reaction from Washington and the alliance as a whole. The United States keeps trying to get Turkey to give up its Russian SAM systems. Last October, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara did not intend to give up the S-400, despite pressure from Washington. He also rejected threats of sanctions and suggested that the US should actually try to impose them.
On January 11, the head of Turkey's Defense Industry Directorate said that the S-400s supplied to the republic were ready to be put into service.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Vitaly Nevar / TASS
Based on materials from TASS