US Offers Turkey Patriot Missiles, But Only If They Promise Not to Operate S-400s
Turkey has already bought S-400 systems from Russia, despite US objections
Jason Ditz
After a protracted dispute between the US and Turkey over the Turkish decision to buy S-400 air defenses from Russia, Turkey has decided that they would like to have Patriot missiles for northern Syria, with an eye toward using them against Russia and Syria.
US officials say they are willing to sell Turkey the Patriot missiles after all, but only if they promise not to put the S-400 into operation, despite Turkey already having bought and paid for that.
US officials are saying this is a “softening” of their previous position that Turkey couldn’t buy both, though as a practical matter saying Turkey has to not use what they already bought seems like an offer meant to be rejected.
Turkish officials also say that the US offer requires them to also buy F-35s, a very expensive US warplane. The US had previously expelled Turkey from the F-35 joint program over the S-400, though its not clear Turkey even wants back into that program, with Russia suggesting they’d sell warplanes to them at a better price.
US officials say they are willing to sell Turkey the Patriot missiles after all, but only if they promise not to put the S-400 into operation, despite Turkey already having bought and paid for that.
US officials are saying this is a “softening” of their previous position that Turkey couldn’t buy both, though as a practical matter saying Turkey has to not use what they already bought seems like an offer meant to be rejected.
Turkish officials also say that the US offer requires them to also buy F-35s, a very expensive US warplane. The US had previously expelled Turkey from the F-35 joint program over the S-400, though its not clear Turkey even wants back into that program, with Russia suggesting they’d sell warplanes to them at a better price.
posted by Satish Sharma at
12:50
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