Turkey Accepts Anti-Aircraft System Delivery From Russia Despite US Warning
The Russian and Turkish defense ministries said on July 12 that Russia had delivered the first parts of an S-400 air defense system to Ankara, rankling the US, which has said the deal indicates NATO member Turkey’s growing ties to Russia.
The US had said it would block deliveries of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and cut off Turkish military pilots from training should they proceed with the Russian deal, and also warned that Turkey could face economic sanctions, the Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the Washington Post, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended the deal, saying Turkey had the sovereign right to defend itself.
Both the Russian Ministry of Defense and Turkish Ministry of Defense released footage on July 12 of cargo arriving at the Murted Air Base in Ankara. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defense via Storyful
