Erdogan says US sanctions an attack on Turkey's rights

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that US sanctions imposed on Turkey over its purchase of Russian defense systems were an attack on Ankara's sovereign rights aimed at deterring its defense industry, a move which he said was bound to fail.

On Monday, Washington imposed the sanctions targeting NATO member Turkey's Defense Industry Directorate (SSB), its chief Ismail Demir and three other employees over its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.

In his first public comments on the move, Erdogan said that problems stemming from the sanctions would be overcome and vowed to ramp up efforts towards an independent defense industry, while criticizing Washington for sanctioning a NATO ally.

"What kind of alliance is this? What kind of partnership is this? This decision is an open hostile attack against our country's sovereign rights," he said in...