Turkey says impossible to backpedal on Russian S-400 purchase

It is impossible for Turkey to annul the Russian S-400 purchase, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Monday.

"Regardless of the sanctions imposed, we bought the S-400s. It is impossible for us to backpedal on the purchase. NATO only protects 30 percent of Turkey's airspace," he said in a joint press conference with Ruandan counterpart Dr. Richard Sezibera.

He also stated that partners in the F-35 jet program do not support the steps taken by the United States regarding the training of Turkish pilots.

The Pentagon announced earlier this month that training by Turkish pilots on F-35 fighter jets had been halted at a U.S. air base in Arizona following Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.

Tensions between the U.S. and Turkey have escalated in recent months with Turkey set to begin receiving the advanced S-400 Russian surface-to-air missile defense system, which Washington said will jeopardize Turkey's role in the F-35 program and could trigger sanctions.

Following protracted efforts to purchase an air defense system from the U.S. with no success, Ankara decided in 2017 to purchase the Russian S-400.

U.S. officials advised Turkey to buy the U.S. Patriot missile system rather than the S-400s from Moscow, arguing the Russian system would be incompatible with NATO systems and expose the F-35 to possible Russian subterfuge.

Turkey, however, emphasized the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not pose a threat to the alliance.

Turkey has urged formation of a commission to clarify any technical issues, but the U.S. has failed to respond to this proposal.