Russia, Turkey Collaborating on New Missile System

Putin and Erdogan met to discuss a new missile system. (Kremlin)

Russia and Turkey are collaborating on a contract for the delivery of a new batch of Russian S-400 missile systems. Turkey may have to choose between NATO and Russian protection, as NATO members have called this action “not compatible with NATO defenses.”

President Donald Trump warned at a NATO meeting that the U.S. might consider sanctions on Ankara if the contract goes through. Trump blamed the “mess” on the prior Obama administration, saying that the U.S. should have previously supplied American missile systems to Turkey.

The U.S. removed Turkey from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program after the country bought $2.5 billion worth of S-400 batteries earlier this year. While deliveries began in July, the devices will not be operational until spring 2020. One State Department official said that Turkey could not “mend fences” until they returned the S-400s already purchased.

Turkey’s defense minister said that the contract with Russia was “not a choice, but a necessity.” Before reaching out to Russia, Turkey allegedly tried to obtain defenses from the U.S. and France, but both allies refused.

"They [U.S. officials] told us 'don't activate them and we can sort this out', but we told them that we didn't buy these systems as a prop," the Turkish foreign minister said. Ergodan has also said he would be open to additionally purchasing U.S. Patriot systems, adding that he was confident his personal bond with Trump would resolve any issues with the S-400s.

Russian arms expert Alexander Mikheev expects military cooperation between the two nations lasting beyond just the S-400s. “We have big plans ahead,” he said.

Trump and Erdogan met last month and committed to working with their respective national governments to reach a diplomatic solution.