Turkey to receive first S-400 in July

MOSCOW - Russia will make first delivery of its S-400 air defense systems to Turkey in July, Russian news agencies cited the head of Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport as saying on Wednesday, in accordance with the earlier-stated plans.

"We are making first delivery in July as part of out plans," Alexander Mikheev told RIA news agency.

The plans of Turkey, a NATO member, have irked the United States, which threatened sanctions against Ankara if it goes ahead with the purchase.

On Tuesday, the US envoy to NATO said Turkey will be axed from the high-tech F-35 fighter jet program if it goes ahead with plans to buy Russian S-400 missiles.

US Ambassador to Turkey Kay Bailey Hutchison said: "There will be a disassociation with the F-35" if NATO member Turkey buys the Russian missile system, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to do.

Speaking on the eve of NATO talks in Brussels, Hutchison added: "We cannot have the F-35 in any way affected by, or destabilized by, having this Russian system."

The US and other NATO allies have repeatedly complained about the purchase, saying the S-400 is not compatible with other allied systems and represents a security threat, particularly to the F-35.

But Hutchison said Turkey does not appear ready "to retract on the sale".

Indeed, Erdogan repeated on Tuesday that Turkey had no intention of doing so.

"Turkey does not negotiate, seek permission or bow to pressure from other countries on the issue of meeting its security needs," the Turkish leader told his ruling party's legislators.

"The S-400 issue is directly related to our sovereign rights, and we will not step back (from this decision)," he said.

Reuters - Ap

(China Daily 06/27/2019 page12)