Between the Nato partners, the United States and Turkey, the controversy extends to the purchase of a controversial Russian anti-missile defence system by the government in Ankara. Around the Nato foreign Ministers meeting in Washington to 70. Anniversary of the founding of the Alliance increased, the US on Wednesday (local time) the pressure on Turkey, which is holding on to the Deal with Moscow in the background. The Turkish government to handle, for its part, the United States.

US Vice-President Mike Pence said in Washington: “Turkey must choose: Will she remain a key Partner of the most successful military Alliance in the history of the world, or will you risk the security of this partnership, by making irresponsible decisions of this Alliance to undermine?” The Turkey should buy the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia, risking the country to the exclusion from the program of the F-35 fighter jets, the purchase of the Turks from the USA.

The Turkish Vice-President Fuat Oktay responded with a similar choice of words. “The United States must choose,” he wrote on Twitter. “Do you want to remain an ally of Turkey, or you want to risk our friendship, by partnering with terrorists, the defence of its Nato allies against his enemies to undermine?” Oktay alluded to the US support for the Kurdish militia YPG in Northern Syria. Ankara sees the YPG is an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdish workers ‘ party PKK.

According to his Ministry, US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo warned his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu during a Meeting in Washington, unauthorized military operations of Turkey in Northern Syria could lead to “potentially devastating consequences”. The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened military action against the YPG. U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened Turkey in January with economic destruction, you should attack the Kurds in Syria.

In the opinion of the US foreign Ministry, it was said, Pompeo had raised at the Meeting with Cavusoglu, the detention of Americans in Turkey and his concern over the planned arms deal in Ankara with Russia, expressed their views.

The Turkish foreign Ministry complained on Thursday about the opinion of American colleagues to the Meeting. This seemed to have been prepared prior to the interview, the Minister. You will not give the content of the meeting and mention topics that had there not been even discussed. Similar problems have existed already in previous Meetings, scolded the Turkish side. Pompeo stressed on Thursday at a press conference, he was “every word” in the communication of his house.

Turkey does not want to S-400 Deal

abandon The American demands for a waiver of the purchase of the Russian missile defense system, Turkey issued on Wednesday again a clear rejection. “The S-400 Deal is closed, we will not withdraw from it”, said Cavusoglu before the start of the Nato meeting in Washington. He does not think it is agreed that Turkey would have to give up on the American F-35 fighter jets. The missile defense system S-400 does not need to be Nato-compatible, he said. It was a defence system for their own use.

Cavusoglu warned the United States that Turkey before the choice to have either good relations with Russia or the United States. The example of Ukraine, where something might lead, he said, referring to the civil war. The US had stopped because of displeasure over the planned installation of the S-400 system in Turkey, most recently, the delivery of Material for F-35 fighter jets to Ankara for the time being. As long as the Turkish government not the Russian air defense system S-400 waivers would be suspended, deliveries and activities to do with the F-35 Jets, initially, informed the US Department of defense.

US Congress warns Turkey

From the U.S. Congress, a party came across a warning to the address of the Turkey. In a joint statement, the Democrats and the Republicans in the foreign Affairs Committee of the house of deputies, it said on Wednesday that Turkey will only risk the exclusion from the F-35 program, but also sanctions, should Ankara to deepen the Connections with Moscow.

to purchase The system from Russia has long been a major point of contention between the United States and Turkey. Washington fears that Russia could get through the defense system of sensitive data on the capabilities of the F-35 Jets. The US government wants to sell to Turkey instead, their anti-aircraft missile system Patriot. Pence said the United States would not sit idly by, “while Nato buy allies weapons of our enemies”. The purchase of the S-400 system is a great danger for Nato, and for the strength of the Alliance. “The fact that Turkey is pursuing these plans even more, after the United States air defense system to make your Patriot-available, is deeply troubling.” (fal/sda)

Created: 04.04.2019, 22:12 PM