US again warns Turkey on Russian missiles at NATO
The United States' new top diplomat met his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of a NATO meeting and warned Ankara against choosing a Russian air defence system.
If Turkey goes ahead and deploys the Russian S-400 system, its radars and missile batteries will not be integrated with those of its NATO allies.
And such a purchase could also be judged a breach of a 2017 US sanctions law designed to punish customers of Russia's arms and aerospace industries.
Washington wants its NATO partners focused on threats from Russian hybrid warfare and on counterterrorism, and sees Ankara's decision as a mistake.
On 27 April, a day after he was sworn in as US secretary of state, former CIA boss Mike Pompeo raised the issue in talks with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
After their talks, a senior State Department official told reporters Pompeo reminded his opposite number Turkey could face sanctions if it bought the S-400.
‘He urged Cavusoglu to closely consider NATO interoperable systems,’ the official said, adding that the meeting had been cordial and workmanlike.
‘And there was also a shared desire to find a common way forward on air defence for Turkey,’ the official said, sounding optimistic.
Immediately before the meeting, however, Cavusoglu had been dismissive.
Asked by a reporter whether Turkey would indeed buy the S-400, he referred to an already announced memorandum of understanding with Russia, asking rhetorically: ‘You mean in addition to the ones we already bought?’
And, pushed on when Moscow might actually deliver the system, he said simply: ‘Russia is speeding up the process.’
Washington and Turkey are longstanding allies but have fallen out over US support for Kurdish forces in Syria and the asylum granted to exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.
In 2017, US lawmakers, seeking to punish Russia for its efforts to undermine Western democracy, passed the Counter America's Enemies Through Sanctions Act.
Under CAATSA, any entity doing business with Russia's state, semi-state and private defence and intelligence sectors could face economic sanctions.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Lockheed nets $4.9 billion US Army contract to build more precision strike missiles
The PrSM missiles, known as Increment 1 weapon systems, will eventually replace the US Army’s Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).
-
US Army to field first human-machine platoon in two years
The Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office plans to deploy armoured and infantry platoon configurations around FY2027.
-
Avalon 2025: Hanwha signs engine deal with Penske for Redback IFVs
Penske Australia will also carry out local assembly and testing of Allison X1100 series cross-drive transmission under licence using kits supplied by South Korea's SNT Dynamics.
-
Ovzon trials UGV comms in Arctic conditions
Swedish company showcases Arctic UGV test as it eyes NATO defence market expansion.
-
US Army Project Convergence to evaluate CJADC2 in the Indo-Pacific theatre
As part of its experimentation campaign, the service will assess CJADC2 concepts and capabilities in challenging environments.
-
Avalon 2025: Hanwha outlines tight schedule for Redback deliveries
The Hanwha Armoured vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) is a A$225 million (US$142 million) factory being built beside Avalon Airport near Melbourne, Australia, despite a substantial drop in the number of vehicles originally planned to be produced.