US warns Turkey of ‘GRAVE CONSEQUENCES’ if Erdogan buys Russian S-400 air defence system

The US Defence Department spokesman Charlie Summers warned that the US could block Ankara from buying Patriot missile systems. Ankara signed an agreement with Moscow for the S-400 missile system in 2017. Turkey has helped to buy the F-35 programme and plans to buy 100 of the planes from the US with hopes of making the system ready for use by 2020. 

Mr Summers said: “If Turkey takes the S-400, there would be grave consequences in terms of our military relationship and the Patriots and the F-35s.

“They will not get the F-35s if they take the S-400.” 

The US European Command head Curtis Scaparrotti has told Congress to stop Turkey from getting the F-35 plane if Ankara continues with its plans to buy the S-400 air defence system.

General Scaparrotti said: “My best military advice would be that we don’t then follow through with the F-35, flying it or working with allies that are working with Russian systems, particularly air defence systems.” 

On Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the deal with Russia on the deliveries of the S-400 air defence systems had been made and it is likely a new deal on purchases of advanced Russian-made 3-500 systems would be possible in the future.

He said: “It’s done. There can never be a turning back.

“This would be immoral. Nobody should ask us to lick up what we spat.” 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Ankara refused to abandon the S-400 missile systems deal with Russia. 

The last diplomatic crisis between Turkey and the United States resulted in the lira being driven to a record low in August. 

Turkey has reportedly already paid Moscow some of the bill and analysts have reported that Erdogan would find it difficult to back away from the Russian deal now.

source: express.co.uk