The United States on Monday, December 14 imposed sanctions on its NATO ally Turkey for purchasing S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia. The US Department of State imposed an embargo on Turkey’s primary defence procurement agency Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) for purchasing the missile system from Rosoboronexport (ROE), which is Russia’s main arms export entity. The United States added that the sanctions are not meant to undermine the military capabilities or combat readiness of Turkey, but rather to impose costs on Russia.
The United States justified the sanctions on ally Turkey, saying Washington on numerous occasions had made clear to Ankara that its purchase of the S-400 missile system would not only provide funds to Russia’s defence sector but also endanger the security of the US military technology and personnel. The US said that Turkey, despite the availability of alternative NATO-interoperable systems, decided to go ahead with the testing and purchasing of the S-400 missile system from Russia.
The decision of Turkey to purchase the missile system from Russia led to the suspension and their temporary removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter partnership, which is a global coalition between the US and its allies to invest in the development and procurement of F-35 fighter jets that are being developed by American firm Lockheed Martin.
