The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly criticizes the US sanctions and affirms that Turkey will not back down from purchasing the Russian “S-400” defense system despite the sanctions

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusolu said that Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Ankara is a politically and legally wrong decision and an attack on Turkish sovereignty, and the problems cannot be solved by imposing sanctions.

The Turkish foreign minister added, in an interview with the Turkish channel, Canal 24, that his country will not back down from owning the Russian “S-400” missile system, despite the sanctions, and it will take similar steps after evaluating the imposed US sanctions.

He indicated that relations between Turkey and the United States could return to normal if the United States fulfilled Turkish aspirations regarding Syrian policy.

Davutoglu described the recent US sanctions against his country as a “wrong step, legally and politically”.

The Turkish “Anadolu News Agency” quoted him as saying today, Thursday, that “the American sanctions are an attack on Turkey’s sovereign rights”.

At the same time, he pointed out that “relations (between the two countries) could return to normal if the United States met Turkey’s aspirations”.

Last Monday, the US Treasury announced the inclusion of the head of the Defense Industries Corporation in the Turkish Presidency, Ismail Demir, and the Foundation officials Mustafa Albert Deniz, Serhat Gançolu and Faruk Yigit, to a sanctions list, due to Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 defense system.

On Thursday, Anadolu News Agency quoted the head of defense industries, Ismail Demir, as saying that the US sanctions will not negatively affect the Turkish Defense Ministry, the army and the security forces.

He added, “Our projects are implemented through companies that the US sanctions did not extend to any of them, and will not affect the agreements and settlements signed before the date of the sanctions.

He explained that the S-400 system – bought by Turkey – is the best missile system compared to its counterparts.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that his country will accelerate its steps in the defense industries, in response to the sanctions imposed by Washington on Ankara.