The Trump administration has announced that it is prepared to launch sanctions against Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government in Ankara, Turkey if it doesn’t release a preacher who was arrested for inciting sedition against the Turkish government during the time of an attempted coup in 2016.
Following the reception of the final components to the Russian S-400 SAM system, China’s People’s Liberation Army is preparing to carry out initial trials of its first such regimental system against a simulated ballistic target at a Chinese firing range. Shipments of S-400 components have been ongoing since April. Under the deal, China will receive two S-400 regiments at a cost of about $3 billion. The next shipment should be accomplished by the year’s end.
Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he fully intends to dial back on his purchase of American arms for Turkey’s defense, and the means that he is using to accomplish this goal is that of substituting those needs with Russian manufactured military hardware.
It looks like US Policy may have just backfired royally in the Middle East (yet again); the latest reports indicate that Turkey may purchase Russian Su-57s, if the US suspends their deliveries of the F-35s.
According to Tass news, citing Turkish paper YeniSafak:
One of the serene privileges being a NATO-member entails, in addition to the permission to participate in military adventurism on behalf of the US, is friendly encouragement to purchase hardware which is “interoperable with other NATO partners”. As a result, the famous protection racke…I mean…defense alliance, was not too pleased when Turkey elected to purchase the Russian S400 air defense system.
