Washington DC, July 3: The United States President Donald Trump administration still holds plans to impose US sanctions on Turkey and eliminate the nation from US-led F-35 fighter jet training program, if Ankara continues with its Russia deal to purchase S-400 air missile defence system, government officials told Reuters,
The threat comes despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s assurance to the contrary, according to Reuters news reports.
After meeting the US president on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit held in Osaka, Japan, last weekend, Erdogan has said Turkey would be refrained damaging the US sanctions once it will begin receiving Russian S-400 air defence system in coming days.
During both leaders’ bilateral summit at the G20 Osaka Summit 2019, Trump appeared sympathetic to the Turkish President and reluctant to commit to US sanctions publicly.
But, the US government officials said, at least so far, the Trump administration intended to imposing sanctions over Turkey and remove it from the F-35 fighter jet program, if Ankara takes deliveries of the Russian S-400s.
“The United States has consistently and clearly stated that Turkey will face very real and negative consequences if it proceeds with its S-400 acquisition, including suspension of procurement and industrial participation in the F-35 program and exposure to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA),” a State Department spokesperson said.
At Pentagon, Air Force spokesperson lieutenant colonel Mike Andrews said, “Nothing has changed.”
“Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system is incompatible with the F-35 program. Turkey will not be permitted to have both systems,” Andrews said.