Ankara has gone ahead with its purchase of the Russian defence system despite threats of US sanctions.
Ankara received its first supply of S-400 missiles in July, despite a warning by the United States about possible sanctions. The acquisition of the highly-advanced air defence system has led to a standoff between Turkey and its NATO allies, especially the US.
[...] The modular S-400 is seen as one of the most advanced missile systems in the world, capable of tracking several targets simultaneously and ready to be fired within minutes.
The US has repeatedly said that the Russian system is incompatible with NATO systems and is a threat to the hi-tech F-35 fighter jets, which Turkey is also planning to buy.
Washington has said Turkey will not be allowed to participate in the F-35 programme because of the Turkey-Russia deal.
The US has strongly urged Turkey to pull back from the deal - the first such move between a NATO member and Russia - warning Ankara that it will face economic sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act if it goes ahead with the purchase, reportedly costing more than $2bn.
So far, however, Ankara has refused to give in to US pressure, insisting that choosing which defence equipment to buy is a matter of national sovereignty.
Previously: US Warns Turkey Not To Buy Russian S-400 Missile System
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday August 27 2019, @10:10PM (2 children)
That is too simplistic.
The religious right in Turkey has never really had much political power, unlike, say Saudi Arabia or Indonesia.
They still don't really, Erdogan is using them as useful idiots to gain and maintain power as they are a reliable voting bloc.
It is very similar to the way in which the Republican party in the US use the religious right as useful idiots to maintain their power.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 27 2019, @11:09PM (1 child)
I stand by my comments about NATO and the EU.
I think Turkey was getting tired of being almost promised things that never would happen.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Wednesday August 28 2019, @12:33AM
You might be right about that. I don't really know for sure, but I don't think Erdogan is terribly keen on joining the EU, as they are not keen on their members suppressing the opposition.