Pentagon chief: Ankara's decision to buy Russian S-400 concerns Washington
Tehran (KNA) - US Secretary of Defense James Mattis says his country is concerned about Turkey’s intent to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems and that Washington takes a dim view of such a move.
In a press briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Mattis warned Ankara against buying the missile defense system from Russia and said the US does "not recommend" the purchase.
"Turkey had a choice to make, a sovereign decision to make. But clearly Turkey bringing a Russian anti-aircraft, anti-missile system into a NATO country, we cannot integrate that into NATO," Mattis told reporters. "Yes, it does concern us and we do not recommend that."
The S-400 system, whose full name is the Triumf Mobile Multiple Anti-Aircraft Missile System (AAMS), is an advanced Russian missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as 402 kilometers away. It has previously been sold only to China and India.
Washington blocked the sale of Lockheed Martin fighter jets to Turkey earlier this month in response to Ankara's decision to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense systems. Turkey, however, has shown determination to press ahead with the purchase plan and already made the first payment for the anti-missile system last year.
Russia has announced that the first batch of S-400 systems will be delivered to Turkey next year.
In a televised speech in June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended his decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems, arguing that Washington had rejected his requests for more military hardware for years.
Source: PressTV