S-400 missile system

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on a key Turkish defence agency over Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system.

Turkey took possession of the Russian missiles last year, despite repeated warnings from the US that it would lead to sanctions.

Turkish Foreign Ministry on Dec. 14 said that U.S. sanctions will harm ties, adding that Ankara will retaliate as necessary.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Dec. 14 imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday the United States has made clear to Turkey that its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems would endanger the security of US military technology and personnel.

Pompeo said he has urged Turkey to resolve the S-400 issue in co-ordination with the United States.

The US Senate approved on Friday its defense budget for 2021 that, among other provisions, paves the way for the imposition of sanctions on Turkey over the supply of Russian S-400 missile systems.

The bill provides for the obligation to impose sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in Turkey within a specific timeframe.

This would effectively force the outgoing US President to impose penalties that have long been prescribed by law, writes the magazine "Foreign Policy".
Capitol Hill has long been pressuring Trump to impose mandatory sanctions on Turkey, after Ankara bought the Russian S-400 anti-missile system in July 2019.

International pressure on Ankara aimed at containing its expansive foreign policy was further intensified this week with the US defense budget bill for 2021, which foresees sanctions against Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 missiles. 

A defense bill approved by American lawmakers and announced on Thursday foresees sanctions against Turkey over its purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia, including a ban on US banking and property transactions, the denial of US visas and forcing US lenders to deny loans to any sanctioned companies.

Slow-moving talks with the United States for the procurement of Patriot air defense systems have not matured, a senior Turkish official has said, while noting the country's progress in ongoing cooperation with France and Italy's Eurosam on SAMP/T systems. 

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on June 4 praised Russian-Turkish cooperation in Syria for having "solid results."

Zakharova spoke at a video conference in Moscow and responded to criticism by U.S. State Department official Matthew Palmer who expressed concern about Turkey's willingness to strengthen and expand cooperation with Russia.

Turkey and Russia are mulling the joint development of aviation and air defense systems, Dmitry Shugayev, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, was quoted as saying Tuesday.