Turkey: Deployment of Russian S-400 Defenses Will Happen Despite Delay

World

April 30th, 4:11pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

Russian S-300 anti-missile rocket systems move along a central street during a rehearsal for a military parade in Moscow May 4, 2009. REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin

Turkey's planned deployment of Russian S-400 missile defenses has been delayed by the coronavirus outbreak but will ultimately go ahead, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Thursday. "There has been a delay because of the coronavirus but it will move forward as it was planned," Ibrahim Kalin told an online meeting hosted by the Atlantic Council. He said Erdogan had told US President Donald Trump several times that he was also interested in purchasing Patriot missiles. The United States has said that Turkey risks US sanctions if it deploys the Russian-made S-400s. Washington has offered to sell Turkey its Patriot missile defense system if Ankara promises not to operate the rival Russian system, Erdogan said last month.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2261196/turkey-deployment-russian-s-400-defenses-will-happen-despite-delay