Ankara is working to resolve its dispute with the United States over the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and to lift the CAATSA sanctions that the Americans imposed on Turkey’s defence sector.
This was stated by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Ukrinform reports Ukrinform.
Fidan stressed that the CAATSA sanctions have become a serious obstacle, primarily for Turkey’s Defence Industry Directorate. According to him, the Turkish side has certain creative ideas for resolving the S-400 issue, which was the very reason for the restrictions.
The foreign minister underlined that Turkey is trying to implement possible scenarios based on mutual goodwill with the United States, and expressed hope for positive progress.
- It was previously reported that the Turkish authorities are holding talks with Russia to obtain consent to transfer the S-400 surface-to-air missile systems purchased from Moscow to a third country.
- This step is intended to remove the main obstacle to Ankara’s return to the US programme to purchase fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets.
- Turkey had previously proposed a compromise: to keep the S-400s, but under US supervision, to allay fears about technology leakage. However, Washington rejected this option. The systems are currently in storage in Turkey and are not being used.
- Ankara was removed from the F-35 programme in 2019 after it received the first batteries of Russia’s S-400s.