Osaka, June 29: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday there was no setback in its deal with Russia for S-400 air defence missile system, despite US threats, as United States President Donald Trump expressed sympathy for Ankara’s decision, though he didn’t rule out US sanctions.
According to Reuters news reports, speaking ahead of a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Osaka on the sidelines of the G20 summit 2019, Erdogan said the Russian S-400s deal showed the deepening of ties between Ankara and Moscow.
“Now, I believe eyes are on the delivery process of this issue, but there are no setbacks in our agreement,” Erdogan said, further adding it was Turkey’s priority that the S-400s deal includes a joint production of missile systems, as well as, technology transfer.
He has also said it was crucial for Ankara to complete the reactor in Akkuyu nuclear power plant – the first nuclear plant of Turkey – by 2023. He added non-nuclear technology at the nuclear plant needs to be procured from Ankara. The plant was constructed by Russia’s Rosatom firm at more than $20 billion costs.
Purchasing any military equipment from Moscow leaves Ankara vulnerable to US penalty under a 2017 law called as Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Washington says the Russian S-400 systems do not comply with the defence network of NATO and could compromise Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter planes – a jet Ankara is assisting to build and also planning to buy.