Turkey won’t step back from its decision to deploy Russian air defence systems despite US sanctions imposed on the country over the purchase, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.
In an interview with Turkey’s 24 TV television, Cavusoglu also said Turkey was mulling steps it would take to reciprocate against the US sanctions, but did not say what the steps could entail.
The US announced sanctions earlier this week over Turkey’s procurement of Russia’s advanced S-400 system, under a US law known as CAATSA, aimed at pushing back on Russian influence. The sanctions target Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries, the head of the presidency and three other senior officials.
The penalties block any assets the four officials may have in US jurisdictions and bar their entry into the US. They also include a ban on most export licenses, loans and credits to the agency.
It is the first time that CAATSA has been used to penalise a US ally.
“If we were to step back we would have done so before now,” Cavusoglu said in response to a question on whether Turkey would cancel the S-400 deal with Russia.
Cavusoglu added: “Now we are assessing the impact of these sanctions in great detail...And will take steps accordingly.”
The Minister also described the sanctions as “wrong both legally and politically,” arguing that Turkey’s purchase of the Russian system in 2017 predated the CAATSA law.