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Turkey Slams US Sanctions Over Russian Missile System Purchase

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - The Trump administration's decision to sanction NATO ally
   Turkey over the purchase of a Russian missile system has drawn swift
   Turkish condemnation. For now, however, Ankara appears to be holding
   off on any retaliation, a move analysts suggest is a sign that Turkey
   is already looking ahead to the new administration of U.S.
   President-elect Joe Biden.

   "We are strong in the field and at the table," said Turkish Foreign
   Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Tuesday in response to the sanctions.

   "We condemn this decision and call on the U.S. to step back from this
   mistake as soon as possible," Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on
   Twitter.

   Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system in 2017 triggered
   Trump's sanctions, as it violated the Countering America's Adversaries
   Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA. Along with Turkey's other NATO
   partners, the United States says the S-400 compromises NATO's defense
   systems, an accusation Ankara denies. It has been reported that the
   S-400 is capable of shooting down aircraft such as the F-35, the U.S.'s
   latest fighter jet.

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