Turkey's plans to switch on its new Russian missile defence systems have been delayed by the coronavirus outbreak but it does not intend to reverse a decision which has raised the threat of U.S. sanctions, a senior Turkish official said.
ISTANBUL - Turkey’s plans to switch on its new Russian missile defence systems have been delayed by the coronavirus outbreak but it does not intend to reverse a decision which has raised the threat of U.S. sanctions, a senior Turkish official said.
But the coronavirus outbreak has focused Turkish efforts on combatting the pandemic and ring-fencing an economy which only just pulled out of recession last year. In recent weeks Erdogan and his government have not raised the S-400 issue publicly. Their acquisition by Turkey means Ankara could face U.S. sanctions under legislation designed to punish countries which buy defence equipment from Russia.
The issue “is muffled right now because of COVID, but the thinking in Washington prior to COVID dominating the discourse was that the Turks were probably going to activate the system in April and Congress was going to move to impose sanctions,” Outzen said. “I don’t think any of that has gone away”.The delay in deploying the S-400s gives Ankara more time to consider its next move, analysts say. A recent alignment of U.S.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Turkey has most coronavirus cases outside Europe and U.S.Turkey's confirmed coronavirus cases have risen to 86,306, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Sunday, the highest total for any country outside Europe or the United States.
Read more »
Turkey warns Syrian regime against violation of Idlib ceasefireTurkish President Erdogan said the Syrian regime was using the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to ramp up violence in Syria's Idlib region.
Read more »
Turkey has most coronavirus cases outside Europe and U.S.Turkey's confirmed coronavirus cases have risen to 86,306, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Sunday, the highest total for any country outside Europe or the United States.
Read more »
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warns Trump may put US in 'further danger' during coronavirus crisis'If he continues to predicate the actions that we take on a false premise, then we're in further danger,' Pelosi said during a wide-ranging interview on 'This Week' with ABC News' Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos. Pelosi also referred to Trump's comments at the onset
Read more »
Governors say Trump continues to be wrong on coronavirus testingPresident Trump is pushing for the the U.S. to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. But state leaders say coronavirus testing lags too far behind.
Read more »
PHOTOS: Nurses on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19The coronavirus pandemic has put nurses on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19.
Read more »