Turkey set to respond to possible US sanctions over Russian S-400s deal - FM

"We will respond. You cannot threaten us," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu says
FILE PHOTO: Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
Saturday, 10 March 2018 18:48

Turkey is ready to respond to possible US sanctions, for example, those over Ankara's decision to purchase Russian S-400 Triumf air defence systems, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said.

Earlier this week, head of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe Curtis Scaparrotti said that the United States hoped that Turkey would change its decision on Russian S-400 systems and warned that Ankara might face consequences over the move.

"If it [the United States] wants to punish Turkey with sanctions, Turkey will react in another way, not like Russia or other states ... We will respond. You cannot threaten us. The United States threatens many countries saying 'Do not buy gas of one or another country.' That does not work," Cavusoglu told Zeit Online.

In December, Russia and Turkey signed a loan agreement on the supply of Russia's S-400 air and missile defence systems to Turkey.