Baku, Azerbaijan, April 24
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
In case Washington decides on sanctions against Turkey, due to the implementation of agreements between Ankara and Moscow on the purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) S-400, American companies in the defense industry will suffer the greatest losses, head of the Diplomatic center for strategic studies and head of Department for cultural diplomacy under University of Paris Najiye Celine Senocak told Trend.
Turkey should be ready for any outcome of the events and should not yield to pressure from the US, the expert said.
The expert noted that the constant threats from Washington towards Ankara due to the purchase of Russian S-400 are directed against the national security of Turkey in the run-up to the parliamentary and presidential elections.
Senocak said, there are many reasons for concern for NATO, related to the recent rapprochement between Turkey and Russia.
"One of these reasons is that the rapprochement between Turkey and Russia may lead to the weakening of the US and NATO in the region, as well as the loss of an important market for weapons," said Senocak.
The expert believes that another reason for US concern about the strengthening of Turkish-Russian relations, is due to the fact that Russian military instructors will arrive in Turkey to train Turkish colleagues to operate the S-400.
"The US fears that Russian military specialists working in Turkey will be able to obtain valuable intelligence information about NATO-owned military infrastructure in Turkey. Russian S-400 will be placed at strategic heights that will allow to freely track the NATO systems," said Senocak.
According to the expert, Turkey and Russia are carrying out joint construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, and it is obvious that Ankara is purchasing Russian S-400 SAMs to ensure the safety of this nuclear power plant.
Senocak also noted that, despite the fact that Turkey is a NATO member, in recent years, such members of the Alliance as the United States and France under the pretext of fighting the terrorist organization "Islamic state" (ISIS) supplied ammunition to terrorist organizations PYD-YPG and PKK functioning in Syria and Iraq, which is contrary to the national interests of Turkey.
"In the current situation, it is difficult for Turkey to trust its allies. Given all this, Turkey is forced to look for new allies and at the same time to strengthen and develop its national defense system," the expert believes.
Shenojak said, in 2012, Turkey in order to secure its borders from the threat from Syria appealed to NATO for the purchase of the Patriot SAM, but the US refused to sell Turkey this anti-aircraft missile system.
Currently, Spain-owned Patriot SAM system is located at the Incirlik air base in the Turkish province of Adana, and the other, owned by Italy, SAMP SAM system is located in the province of Kahramanmaras.
"Some time ago, Turkey began negotiations with China on the acquisition of SAM systems, but later was forced to abandon these negotiations. I do not think that the negotiations on the purchase of Russian SAM will end the same way," - said the expert.
"The cold war ended, and relations between Turkey and Russia are rapidly developing in political and military areas," said Senocak.
Earlier, the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman said that US sanctions against Rosoboronexport would not affect supply of the S-400 SAM to Ankara, however, later US Assistant Secretary of State, Wes Mitchell, said that Turkey could fall under sanctions if it buys these anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia.
"Ankara claims that it has agreed to purchase Russian S-400 missile systems, despite the fact that this could potentially lead to sanctions under article 231 of the CAATSA and negatively affect Turkey's participation in the F-35 program," Mitchell said, speaking before the House of Representatives of the US Congress. Earlier Pentagon Chief James Mattis said that the United States does not recommend Turkey to buy Russian anti-aircraft missile systems S-400.