US Department of State: Our Position to S-400 Sanctions Remains the Same

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Morgan Ortagus, the Spokesperson for the US Department of State, has spoken about Turkey's purchase of S-400 defense missile system from Russia and possible US sanctions on the country.

In her press briefing on July 9, she was asked, "On Turkey, you've said that Turkey will face real and negative consequences if it takes delivery of the S-400. According to Turkish press reports that were repeated in the Russian press, that is happening today. So, how will those consequences be implemented? What steps, concrete steps do you expect to take?"

Ortagus answered this question in following words:

'Consequences include participation in F-35 program'

"Well, I think, to be fair, we have a report almost every other day in some newspaper around the world that Turkey is taking control of the S-400 today, so that's not sort of – that's not very new. I think we all read that quite a bit in publications around the world.

"Our position here at the State Department as it relates to Turkey and the S-400 has not changed. We – again, everybody knows – the Turkish authorities know – the legislation that has been passed in Congress as it relates to CAATSA, and all of that remains the same.

"We have said that Turkey, as you pointed out, will face real and negative consequences if they accept the S-400. Those consequences include participation in the F-35 program.

"I think that the Secretary and this department have been incredibly consistent about that over – at least since I've been here and over the past year since the Secretary has been here, so there is nothing that I've said or that the Secretary has said that has changed as it relates to that."

Erdoğan said, 'We heard no such thing as sanctions'

Making a statement for the press in the wake of G20 Summit in Japan on June 28-29, President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered the questions of journalists on a series of issues including possible US sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of S-400s.

Referring to his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the summit, Erdoğan said, "We have heard no such thing as sanctions up until now." (EKN/SD)

* Photograph: Anadolu Agency / Archive