Media: Turkey may cancel purchase of S-400 missile systems from Russia
The Bild newspaper, citing Turkish diplomatic circles, reported that Turkish authorities, apparently, intend to reconsider their decision to purchase the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia.
According to the newspaper, in Ankara, it is associated with a sharp deterioration of the country’s economic situation, decrease of Turkish lira rate and fear of the possible sanctions by the United States because of this deal with Russia.
“The matter of supplying S-400 in July, as the Turkish president said, will not materialize, because the purchase will lead to Washington’s sanctions, and in the light of the current decline in the lira rate, this would mean an economic collapse of Turkey,” writes the Bild.
According to the newspaper’s source, “the economic crisis in Turkey is aggravated by Ankara’s aggressive foreign policy. Earlier, the German ambassador to Turkey, Martin Erdman, spoke against the purchase of anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia. "We want Turkey to remain a solid part of the Western alliance, and we are very concerned about the purchase of the S-400," he said at a conference in Istanbul.
The signing of Russia and Turkey contract for the supply of S-400 was officially confirmed in 2017. Unlike Russia’s first foreign customer, China, Turkey is to receive, not two, but one S-400 regiment set. The U.S. has been actively trying to prevent these weapons supply to Turkey.
The S-400 Triumph is a Russian long-range and medium-range anti-aircraft missile system. This system is intended to destroy an air assault and reconnaissance aircraft (including aircraft made using stealth technology) and any other air targets under intense fire conditions and electronic countermeasures.