June 13, 2019

Anna Murray 

On June 12, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that Ankara had decided to purchase an anti-aircraft missile system from Russia, which caused tension among the NATO military alliance, especially the US. The NATO members, Turkey and the US included, were worried that Russian S-400 system could spy on NATO aircraft. 
 

US acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan wrote a letter to the Turkish counterpart Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, warning Turkey to cancel the deal, or the US would stop F-35 fighter jet program and make further economic sanctions toward Turkey, giving July 31 as the deadline.
 

But both Erdogan and his Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu ignored the warning and Cavusoglu even refused anyone to give Turkey ultimatum. According to Reuters, the US sanctions could extend Turkey's economic recession and its 67-year membership of NATO would be evaluated again.
 

Erdogan paid a visit to Putin in April, and agreed to "strengthen cooperation in the military-technical sphere." Therefore, Putin’s first step is to sell Turkey S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems before July and the relation between Ankara and Moscow can grow closer. Aware of it, Washington must discourage Ankara from striking the deal with Moscow.
 

Turkish President Erdogan and US President Donald Trump will meet for the G20 Osaka summit in Japan on June 28-29. Erdogan plans to discuss the issue of the F-35 program with Trump face to face.

Photo:Webshot.