U.S. official warns Ankara on F-35 deal over Russia missile defence system

Mitchell said the United States would not consider the purchase complete until the system is actually delivered, giving Turkey time to change its mind
Tuesday, 26 June 2018 21:10

The United States maintains the ability to withhold the transfer of F-35 combat aircraft to Turkey over national security concerns if Ankara decides to purchase the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell said in a congressional testimony on Tuesday.

"We believe that we have the existing legal authorities that would allow us to withhold transfer under certain circumstances, including national security concerns," Mitchell told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Mitchell said, "In this program, the US maintains custody of aircraft until they’re transferred, which normally occurs after a lengthy training process."

If it buys the system, Turkey would also be subject to sanctions under the CAATSA law, Wess Mitchell testified in the Senate.

In August 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) into law. The legislation allows Washington to impose sanctions on entities and individuals that operate on behalf of Russia's defense or intelligence sectors, as well as those engaging in transactions with these sectors.

Mitchell testified that the training phase is still underway, giving the United States the time and ability to ensure Turkey does not move forward on the S-400 air defense systems.

In December 2017, Moscow and Ankara signed a loan agreement to supply S-400 air defense systems to Turkey.

"We've also been very clear that across the board, an acquisition of S-400 will inevitably affect the prospects for Turkish military-industrial cooperation with the United States, including F-35," Mitchell told.

The relationship between the United States and Turkey would be altered in a way that might be beyond repair if Turkey decided to proceed with the purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems, Mitchell also said.

"A decision on S-400 will qualitatively change the US-Turkish relationship in a way that would be very difficult to repair."

But Mitchell also praised Turkey, a member of NATO, as "a crucial ally and partner."

"We work with them very closely in intelligence and in other areas, but this has the potential to spike the punch," he said.