US: Our policy vis-a-vis S-400s has not changed

* Photo: AA - Archive

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Ned Price, the Spokesperson for the United States (US) State Department, has answered the questions of reporters about Turkey-US relations and Turkey's purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Russia.

"Our policy vis-a-vis the S-400s has not changed," Price has said, noting that they threaten the security of NATO technology:

"Russian S-400s are incompatible with NATO equipment. They threaten the security of NATO technology and they are inconsistent with Turkey's commitments as a NATO ally. This significant transaction from Russia, as you know, triggered the CAATSA sanctions under U.S. legislation, and we have and we continue to urge Turkey not to retain this system."

In response to a question why Tony Blinken, the Secretary of State, has not yet spoken with his counterpart in Turkey, Price has briefly answered:

"What I would say, as I just did, is that Turkey of course is a longstanding ally. We share common interests with our Turkish partners. And I would expect the Secretary and his Turkish counterpart will have an opportunity to chat, to connect in the coming days."

Further in his speech, Ned Price has reiterated that the US policy has not changed: "We have very profound concerns about the S-400 system and the S-400 system in the context of a NATO ally."

'We have shared interests'

Addressing Price, another reporter has referred to a bipartisan group of more than 50 senators who wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden asking him to press Turkey to improve "its troubling record on human rights and the increasingly authoritarian path taken by President Erdogan."

"Are you concerned about his path? And will you press Turkey directly on this," the reporter has asked, to which Price has answered:

"Well, I think what I would say is that Turkey is a longstanding and valued NATO ally. We of course have shared interests with the Turks, and that includes ending the conflict in Syria, countering terrorism, deterring malign influence in the region as well. We seek cooperation on common priorities and, as with any ally, we engage in dialogue to address disagreements.

"We can uphold our values, as I was saying before, including our commitment to human rights and the rule of law, while also protecting our interests, and at the same time with Turkey, while ensuring that Ankara remains aligned with the transatlantic alliance on critical issues."

Kalın: Biden knows Turkey, our President

On the other side, Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın has spoken to CNN International. As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Kalın has expressed confidence that the relationship between Ankara and Washington will be good under the administration of US President Joe Biden, as long as it is based on mutual respect and interests.

"Biden and his team know Turkey and its politics," Kalın has said and added, "When taking today's challenges, starting from Syria to Iraq, and from Libya to the Caucasus and the Gulf states, I trust that they will put Turkey's strategic importance and value at the center of relations."

İbrahim Kalın has further indicated, "I am confident that they are ready for a positive relationship with Turkey."

In response to the question, "Do you expect a better relationship with the Biden administration than with the Donald Trump administration?", Spokesperson Kalın has said, "With regard to the Biden administration, we are confident that the relationship will be good as long as it is based on respect, common interests and mutual recognition of sovereignty."

Kalın has added, "We are confident that we will turn a new page with the Biden administration." (EKN/SD)