Russian missile defense for Turkey - USA foam

Despite fierce protests from the US government, Moscow has begun supplying Russian anti-aircraft missiles to Turkey. A first part of the S-400 rockets had arrived at the Murted Air Force Base in Ankara, said the Turkish Ministry of Defense on Friday. Additional components of the missile defense system are expected to be delivered in the coming days. Thus, a sharp conflict between NATO member Turkey and the US is at its peak.

The controversial arms deal between Turkey and Russia was signed in the fall of 2017. From the outset, the US government was strongly against the purchase and use of the Russian system in NATO airspace. Among other things, she fears that Russia will be able to obtain data on the capabilities of the new US stealth aircraft F-35 via the sensitive radars of the S-400.

Turkey is a partner in the construction of the F-35 and should get around 100 jets. The US is now threatening to throw Ankara out of the F-35 program, despite payments of more than $ 1 billion already made in late July.

US threatens harsh sanctions

In addition, sanctions under the American CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act) could come to Turkey. This is aimed at business with the Russian defense sector and includes, for example, bans on real estate transactions and visa restrictions. Furthermore, the US threatens with other, previously not exactly declared sanctions. Last year, punitive measures for a US pastor detained in Turkey had severely damaged the Turkish economy and currency.

Ankara reassures: "For emergencies only"

Turkey has been intensifying its attempts to dispel the concerns of the NATO partner for days. Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu repeatedly stated that the Russian system was used "only in an emergency". The Cumhuriyet newspaper reported that the S-400 would work with an independent radar and not network with other systems such as NATO's air defense. The S-400 is a mobile air defense system that can shoot planes, missiles and other objects from the sky. The units, which usually consist of several missiles, a radar and a command post, can work with short-, medium- and long-range missiles and be transported by truck. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the General Staff of the Armed Forces would decide exactly where the units would eventually be stationed.

Conflict raises concern about NATO erosion

Observers see the new development as an alarming step in NATO's alienation of Turkey from years ago. Several members of the Alliance have expressed concern in recent months that the arms deal and the conflict with the US could lead to a further rapprochement between Turkey and Russia - thereby eroding the Alliance.