Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

While NATO states are displeased with Ankara-Moscow deal over supply of Russian S-400, Turkey assures that it will remain Alliance's close ally.

The purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems doesn’t mean that Ankara distances from NATO, Turkish Presidential Press Secretary Ibrahim Kalin said.

Kalin noted that Turkey is and will remain an important NATO ally, Turkish media outlets reported on August 14.

"Turkey has the right to ensure its security and no one has the right to tell Turkey what to do," Kalin added.

Turkey is moving full steam ahead on its plans to buy the Russian S-400 air defense system and already paid a deposit to bring it immediately into force, Harriyet newspaper reported earlier.

Under the $2.5 billion agreement Ankara would receive two batteries of the antiaircraft missile from Moscow within the coming year and then produce two more batteries in Turkey.

The S-400 is Russia's next-generation air defense system, carrying three different types of missiles capable of destroying aerial targets at a short-to-extremely-long range. The weapon is capable of tracking and destroying all existing aerial targets, including ballistics and cruise missiles.

Turkey has the second-largest military force in NATO, after the U.S., but ties among the alliance members have worsened last July after a failed coup attempt. Relations further deteriorated following an April referendum which expanded the powers of the president.

"We have relayed our concerns to Turkish officials regarding the potential purchase of the S-400," Pentagon spokesman Johnny Michael told CNBC in a written statement. "A NATO interoperable missile defense system remains the best option to defend Turkey from the full range of threats in the region."

"It is up to Allies to decide what military they will buy," NATO spokesman Mark Sanders told CNBC in an email statement. "What matters for NATO is that the equipment Allies acquire is able to operate together. Interoperability of our armed forces is fundamental to NATO for the conduct of our operations and missions."

Earlier, German Foreign Ministry stated that Germany froze arms supplies to Turkey. Ankara said the decision weakens Turkey’s fight against terrorism.

Later, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany would only restrict some arms sales to Turkey, softening the earlier announcement of a freeze on major arms sales, Reuters reported.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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