Mike Pompeo warned Turkey that the purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems “endangers” US personnel.

The Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo warned his Turkish colleague Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday that Ankara’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system “endangers the safety of US personnel.”

According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pompeo and the Turkish Foreign Minister held a telephone conversation in which they discussed the sanctions imposed on the Ottoman land on December 14 for the acquisition of S-400.

Pompeo has transferred to Cavusoglu that the sanctions are contained in the United States’ Anti-Opponents through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and has made it clear that This acquisition “jeopardizes the security of the US military and technology and gives Russia access to the Turkish armed forces and defense industry.”

According to the Secretary of State, the sanctions were imposed with the aim of preventing Russia from receiving substantial revenue, access and influence, and he has emphasized that they are not intended to undermine the military capacity of Turkey or “any other ally or partner of states”. United “.

Last, has urged Ankara to resolve the S-400 issue “consistently” with the history of cooperation in the defense sector of both countries, and to “re-establish their obligations to NATO to purchase interoperable weapons”.

Thursday, Cavusoglu considered that “the sanctions against Turkey are a unilateral decision by the United States and a totally wrong step from a legal and political point of view” in a statement to the television network 24 TV.

In this sense, the government of Turkey has assured that it will not recur in its decision to buy the S-400 anti-aircraft system from Russia, despite the sanctions of the United States, and has reiterated that it will respond reciprocally to Washington, without allowing to give more details about it.

The sanctions, announced Monday, affect Turkey’s Defense Industry Presidency (SSB) and include “a ban on all export licenses and authorizations to the company and the asset freeze and restriction on Ismail Demir’s visa. . , president of the SSB, and other officers.

The Turkish authorities bought the S-400 anti-aircraft system last year and conducted their first test with surface-to-air missiles in this system on October 17. The S-400 is considered one of the best defense systems of its kind and can fire at air targets from 400 kilometers away.

The United States and Turkey have staged several skirmishes in recent years, including over the arrest of several Americans in the country and Washington’s refusal to kill the Pennsylvania cleric Fetulá Gulen, whom he is accusing of the coup attempt. arrest and extradite. Condition of 2016.

(With information from Europa Press)

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