Turkey will not turn back on S-400s despite sanctions

Turkish FM says Ankara will take reciprocal steps after evaluating US sanctions imposed because of acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defence systems.

ANKARA - Turkey will not turn back on its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems and will take reciprocal steps after evaluating the US sanctions imposed because of the acquisition, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

In an interview with broadcaster Kanal 24, Cavusoglu said the sanctions' decision was wrong legally and politically and was an attack on Turkey's sovereign rights, adding that the measures would have no impact on Ankara.

The US announced sanctions earlier this week over Turkey’s procurement of Russia’s advanced S-400 system, under a US law known as CAATSA, aimed at pushing back on Russian influence. The sanctions target Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries, the head of the presidency and three other senior officials.

The penalties block any assets the four officials may have in US jurisdictions and bar their entry into the US They also include a ban on most export licenses, loans and credits to the agency.

It is the first time that CAATSA has been used to penalize a US ally.

“If we were to step back we would have done so before now,” Cavusoglu said in response to a question on whether Turkey would cancel the S-400 deal with Russia.

“Now we are assessing the impact of these sanctions in great detail ... and will take steps accordingly,” added Cavusoglu.

The minister also described the sanctions as “wrong both legally and politically,” arguing that Turkey’s purchase of the Russian system in 2017 predated the CAATSA law.

Cavusoglu said that an improvement of relations between Turkey and the United States would be conditional on President-elect Joe Biden’s ability to address Ankara’s grievances.

Ties between the two have been plagued by numerous disputes, including the jailing of American citizens and local consular staff, US support for Syrian Kurdish fighters considered to be terrorists by Turkey and the continued US residence of a Muslim cleric accused of masterminding the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.

The US had previously kicked Turkey out of its F-35 stealth jet program, saying their use alongside the Russian technology would jeopardize the safety of the fighter jets. Washington also says the Russian system would not be interoperable with NATO systems.