On Wednesday, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar urged the newly elected Biden administration in Washington to engage in dialogue with Ankara and to “review” the decision to sanction Turkey over its purchase of an advanced Russian air missile defence system.
While the official did not mention whether Ankara would give in to US pressure, he said he was hopeful that the impasse could be resolved “through common sense before coming to that point.”
“We are saying let’s not break things up in this way. Let’s sit down and talk and find a solution,” Akar said.
The defence minister further added: “It is a very problematic situation to turn back from the point we have come to. We invite [the US] to distance themselves from threatening language such as sanctions. We want the solution of problems through dialogue. If the US side wants a solution, a solution could be found with work on the technical level.”
Akar made this demand despite the US’ clear decision to not lift the restrictive measures until Ankara dismantles the Russian-made air defense technology. Last month, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) over its purchase of the S-400 missile system. The measures included a ban on all US export licenses and authorisations to Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and an asset freeze and visa restrictions on SSB’s President, Dr. Ismail Demir, and other SSB officers.
Turkey first signed the S-400 deal with Russia in September 2017 and acquired its first four missile batteries, worth about $2.5 billion, in July 2019. Though Turkey has stressed that the defence system is “vital” to the country’s security, the US has opposed Ankara’s purchase on the grounds that they “compromise shared NATO defence systems.”
Over time, Washington has expressed its concern about the Kremlin gaining access to American military secrets if the Russian-made systems are integrated into Turkey’s military. For that reason, when the US’ disapproval failed to stop Ankara from acquiring the weapons, it suspended Turkey from its F-35 jet program in 2019.
The sanctions, however, have failed to put the brakes on Turkey’s deal with Russia, as Akar mentioned on Wednesday that talks with Moscow on acquiring a second consignment of the S-400 are continuing. Hence, despite Turkey’s demands for the Biden administration to review the recent sanctions, it is unlikely that the incoming administration will relax these measures, as Turkey’s deal with Moscow violates the very crux of the Pentagon’s policies against Russia.