In the last few weeks, we have seen an intensification of debates about Turkey’s S-400 purchase in the Western media. Especially in the U.S., one dimension of it is closely connected to the negotiations between the U.S. and Turkey in regards to the U.S. offer of Patriot air defense systems.
The Turkish side is willing to negotiate the sale but repeatedly indicated that it cannot be considered as a precondition for Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 systems from Russia. The fate of the ongoing negotiations is not clear as of today. Another dimension of the repercussions of the S-400 issue is taking place in regards to the delivery of F-35 fighter jets that Turkey has already paid for.
For the last year, some in the U.S. repeatedly brought to the agenda ways to continue F-35 production without Turkey. As stated by then-Secretary of Defense James Mattis, removing Turkey from the F-35 project would generate significant problems in the production of the jet fighter. In his letter he emphasized, “If the Turkish supply chain was disrupted today, it would result in an aircraft production break, delaying delivery of 50-75 F-35s, and would take approximately 18-24 months to re-source parts and recover.”
For the last few years, relations hit rock bottom in multiple different instances, and such a step would further deteriorate the trust issue between two countries. Any such step and further sanctions against Turkey will have other repercussions beyond Turkish-U.S. relations as well.
On the one hand, any attempt to find ways to produce the F-35 without Turkey’s contribution will generate a major question mark for countries that are willing to purchase this weapon system or any other defense systems from the U.S. Since some in the U.S. administration are willing not to comply with a contract signed more than a decade ago can be a serious question that other potential customer countries need to pay attention to.
The use of such sanctions will further complicate the alliance system. Sanctions or the threat to use sanctions will not consolidate alliances, it can only strengthen skepticism, and even if that works in the short term, in the medium and long term countries may seek alternative defense industry partners.
Considering the potential repercussions of launching a crisis with Turkey over this issue, General Dunford last week said that they are still hopeful they could find a way to resolve the issue. Turkey’s concern about its air defense is not new. Neither is its search for acquiring air defense systems. Before escalating this tension there should be self-reflection in the U.S. administration on the potential causes of Turkey’s S-400 decision that should not be repeated in the future. Just like General Dunford said, there are different areas of policy convergence between the U.S. and Turkey.
In this article
- Opinion
- Daily Sabah
- F-35 Fighter Jet Program
- People's Protection Units (YPG)
- PKK - YPG - SDF - PYD - YPJ - SDG - HBDH - HPG - KCK - PJAK - TAK - YBŞ
- Russia
- S-400 Triumph Air Defence Missile System
- Sanctions
- Turkish Foreign Policy
- Turkish-American Relations
- Türkiye
- Türkiye-US Relations
- Türkiye's Foreign Policy
- United States (US)
- Western Media
- Western World