‘S-400 possession is necessary, not an option:’ Turkey tries to absorb US anger over use of Russian missile system
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday that its possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system is a necessity, rather than a choice, in an attempt to deflect US anger.
On Friday, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that Turkey has tested its Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems despite objections from the US, saying Ankara did not need Washington’s permission to evaluate the performance of its military hardware.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that his country’s possession of this system is not an option, but rather a necessity in order to protect the security, safety, and independence of the Turkish people, their homeland, and their skies, as he put it.
Akar pointed out that Turkey’s tests of the S-400 system do not equate to Ankara’s distancing from NATO. He added, “Just as the S-300 system is used by countries in NATO, Turkey also uses the S-400 system in the same manner.”
The Turkish Ministry of Defense tried to respond to the condemnation issued by the US Department of Defense regarding these tests.
“Instead of making statements about the possibility of deteriorating relations, what we expect from our friends and allies is to focus on discussing alternative solutions that we have presented so far, and additional reasonable technical measures that can be taken, if any,” the Ministry said.
“Turkey’s goal is not to bother anyone, but to ensure the safety of its people.”
Abdelhamid Surkan, a researcher on Turkish affairs residing in Antakya, said, “Turkey does not want to open the door to a new dispute with the US, and it felt the sharpness of the American position.”
The US Department of Defense indicated that these tests would cause the security relationship between Ankara and Washington to worsen.
Turkey hastened to respond that its possession of this system is a necessity and not an option, “in an attempt to change the American viewpoint,” according to Surkan.
In an interview with North Press, Surkan pointed out that “the ball is now in America’s court, and it is he who will determine the consequences of the matter.”
On Friday, the Pentagon strongly condemned Turkey’s test of the S-400 air defense system, saying that Washington opposes Turkey’s possession of this system and that these tests “create serious problems for security relations between the two countries.”
Omar Huseyinoglu, an Istanbul-based political analyst concerned with international relations, said that “for some time, the US has been threatening to impose sanctions on Turkey for its possession of this system last year.”
Washington does not want Ankara to move away from the West and rapprochement with Russia, according to the political analyst, but “Turkey’s insistence on buying and testing the Russian system may escalate the crisis between the two countries.”
Since 2019, Turkey has stated that it will not abandon the S-400 air defense system, “knowing that the US was the reason behind Turkey’s direction to Russia to buy this system,” Huseyinoglu told North Press.
He explained that “what the US is afraid of are the statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in 2019.” At the time, Cavusoglu said, “The work of the system is defensive, and it will be ready immediately in the event of any air attack on Turkey, and this matter is the cornerstone of Turkey.”
In 2019, the United States removed Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program as a result of the country buying the Russian S-400 air defense missile system, Pentagon officials said.
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen M. Lord and Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy David J. Trachtenberg told reporters in the Pentagon that Turkey chosen the delivery of the Russian-built system. And that Turkey cannot have both the Russian system and the fifth-generation fighter aircraft.