Turkey and Russia will discuss new S-400 systems deliveries

By Boyko Nikolov

ANKARA, (BM) – Russia’s Interfax news agency reports that Turkey and Russia are preparing a meeting in late January to discuss several issues, including new deliveries of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made this statement yesterday, Friday, January 15, BulgarianMilitary.com has learned. We remind you that Turkey has expressed a desire to develop S-400 air defense systems together with Russia. Some military experts say Turkey is ready to join Russia’s latest S-500 air defense systems.

In a statement, the Turkish president also said that Ankara does not intend to discuss with anyone what it plans to develop and buy. According to him, a foreign country has no right to interfere in its domestic or foreign policy, especially defense. With that statement, Erdogan was referring to discontent and the US attempts to influence Ankara’s decisions.

Washington has already imposed sanctions on Turkey

The outgoing Trump administration eventually decided to do what it had promised for two years. On December 15, 2020, the US officially imposed sanctions on Ankara to purchase Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems.

Something the world had been waiting for a long time and no longer believed would happen. Trump has been threatening Turkey with these sanctions for a long time. So long that Erdogan did not take it seriously and ordered more Russian S-400 systems.

What do the sanctions include? The sanctions will block joint projects and technology transfers between US companies and Turkish companies linked to a Turkish military supply agency. They also impose restrictions on loans from US financial institutions to the agency in question totaling more than $ 10 million. Besides, assets are frozen, and visa restrictions are introducing for its chairman and three other staff. According to Reuters, it is not immediately clear the impact of sanctions on third countries, such as European countries that supply weapons or defense components and work with Turkish defense companies.

Turkey also has a plan ‘B’

According to the 2017 agreement, Turkey bought 4 S-400 Triumf batteries with 36 launchers and at least 192 missiles for a value of 2.5 billion. It seemed that this investment would be followed by its expansion just a month ago, but apparently, Ankara has other plans.

“There would be a second S-400 regiment in Turkey today. It would be like if we followed the quick and easy path, but we strive for the maximum,” declared Demir today, “With the information, we learn from the S-400 experience, we plan to achieve a similar level in our work to create our air defense systems.” As he added, these systems are to be ready in 2025 or 2026.

This decision may mean an inevitable shift in Ankara’s policy to date. However, it must admit that it has, in fact, consistently been striving for years to develop independent solutions in various areas. These actions were successful for the lower tiers [short and very short range defense], and now the aim is to qualify in mid-range systems.

Time will show the extent to which the “own” Turkish system will result from their independent technical thought using only perceived solutions and how it will depend on Russia and its technology. And what will the Americans say to all this, who, on the one hand, can continue a further sanctions policy, and on the other hand, support the project of Turkization and Westernization of advanced Russian technical solutions, de facto having no excuse to introduce sanctions.

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Editorial team