ANKARA, June 14 — Turkey will not back down from its decision to buy Russian S-400 missile defence systems despite US warnings that it will lead to Ankara's exclusion from the F-35 fighter jet programme, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said yesterday.

In what has become the main source of tension between Ankara and Washington, the Nato allies have sparred publicly for months over Turkey's purchase of the S-400s, which Washington has said could trigger US sanctions.

US Acting Secretary of Defence Patrick Shanahan last week sent his Turkish counterpart a letter warning that Ankara would be pulled out of the F-35 jet programme unless it changes course from its plans to install the defences.

In what was Turkey's first direct response to the letter, Cavusoglu said no one can give Turkey ultimatums.

Advertisement

“Turkey will not back down from its decisions with these kinds of letters,” he said. “Turkey bought S-400, it is going to be delivered and stationed in Turkey.”

The S-400s are not compatible with Nato's defence systems and Washington says they would compromise its F-35s, which Turkey also plans to buy. Turkey has proposed that the allies form a working group to asses the impact of the S-400s, but has yet to receive a response from the United States.

Cavusoglu yesterday repeated Turkey's call for the joint working group, saying experts from both countries should come together to evaluate US concerns.

Advertisement

A day earlier, President Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey had completed the deal with Russia and that the systems will be delivered in July. Russia has said it will begin the delivery of the systems in July.

Erdogan also said that Ankara would challenge its potential removal from the F-35 programme on every platform and hold those who exclude Turkey accountable.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said he hoped the F-35 issue would not escalate to an international issue, and added that Turkey would receive the jets.

“The F-35s, which are Turkey's right, will most certainly be delivered to our country,” Kalin said. “We hope that the United States will turn back from this stance that permanently damages bilateral ties by using the S-400s as an excuse as soon as possible,” he said.

Kalin also said a meeting between Erdogan and Russia's President Vladimir Putin was being planned at the G20 summit in Japan, where Erdogan is also expected to meet with US President Donald Trump.

Letter dispute

The United States has threatened to impose sanctions on Ankara under its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), the possibility of which has spooked investors and caused a selloff in the lira this year.

The currency slid more than 1 per cent against the US dollar yesterday.

While Turkey has dismissed the US warnings, Washington has said discussions are taking place with Ankara on selling Turkey rival Raytheon Co Patriot defence systems. But, Erdogan has said the US offer was not “as good as the S-400s.”

Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has said Turkey is working on a response to Shanahan's letter and that it will be delivered in coming days.

The ministers later spoke by telephone yesterday and discussed the letter, Turkey's defence ministry said, adding that Akar had “emphasised the improper wording not in line with the spirit of the Alliance” in the letter during the call.

Kalin yesterday reiterated that Shanahan's letter to Akar was not in spirit of the alliance between the NATO allies, and added that he had discussed the issue with Trump's national security advisor John Bolton.

Israel's deputy Defence Minister Eli Ben-Dahan said the strains between Turkey and the United States could help strengthen ties with Israel and boost the country's participation in the F-35 programme.

“It could also very much be that ...the State of Israel will get another portion within the framework of the F-35 and additional things which, in part, were meant to have been transferred to factories in Turkey,” he told Army Radio. — Reuters