US Threatens Sanctions, F-35 Deal Cancellation if Turkey Persists with S-400 Deal

The United States has threatened to cancel Turkey’s participation in the F-35 fighter jet program and also impose sanctions on it if Ankara persists on its planned purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems.

“We’ve long made it clear we would like to work collaboratively on air and missile defense with Turkey, and we have offered opportunities for Turkey to consider Patriot among other systems over the years. We’ve also made it clear to Turkey that we have very serious concerns with its stated plans to proceed with the acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system,” US Department of State spokesperson Robert Palladino said in a press briefing Tuesday.

"We've clearly warned Turkey that its potential acquisition of the S-400 will result in a reassessment of Turkey's participation in the F-35 program and risk other potential future arms transfers to Turkey, as well as lead to potential sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act," Palladino said.

In December last year, the US State Department issued a notice of sale of Patriot Missile System to Turkey worth $3.5 billion which was followed by the visit of a US delegation to Ankara to discuss the proposed sale further.

Washington’s effort to block Turkey from acquiring Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems fell short as the US’s Patriot missiles offer failed to include neither a technology sharing clause as demanded by Ankara nor a discount on the proposed $3.5 billion deal, Turkey’s Yeni Safak newspaper reported then.