CCTV News:Turkey’s purchase of S-400 air defense missile system from Russia was settled on the 29th, and the two countries formally signed an arms sales agreement in Ankara, Turkey.
According to the agreement, Russia will sell four sets of S-400 air defense missile systems to Turkey, with a contract amount of 2.5 billion US dollars, about 16.266 billion yuan, of which Turkey will pay 45% in advance and the remaining 55% with Russian loans. Russia plans to supply the first batch of S-400 air defense missile systems to Turkey in March 2020.
S-400 air defense missile system
S-400 air defense missile system is the latest air defense missile system of Russia’s fourth generation, which has been installed in Russian army, and its task is to destroy all kinds of air and space attack weapons. Each system can guide 72 missiles at the same time and strike 36 targets with a range of 400 kilometers, which is considered to be the most advanced air defense system owned by the Russian army so far.
The conclusion of this arms sales transaction marks that Turkey has become the first NATO member to purchase and deploy the S-400 missile system. The S-400 arms sales agreement between Russia and Turkey was opposed by western countries. Turkish President Erdogan said in September this year that Turkey has the right to establish an independent national defense force and other countries have no right to interfere.
[News Watch] Why did Turkey buy Russian-made weapons despite NATO’s opposition?
Turkey has the second largest conventional army in NATO and is an important member of NATO, while Russia is regarded as an important competitor by NATO. Turkey’s purchase of S-400 air defense missile system from Russia was strongly opposed by NATO, and NATO warned Turkey not to integrate S-400 into NATO’s defense system. So why does Turkey still insist on buying Russian-made S-400 air defense missile system?
The purchase of S-400 will enhance Turkey’s defense capabilities.
In 2012, affected by the spillover of the Syrian crisis, Turkey asked NATO to deploy Patriot missiles on the Turkish-Syrian border to defend against air attacks from Syria. Germany and the Netherlands immediately deployed Patriot missiles in Turkey. However, in 2015, the Syrian crisis intensified, but Germany and the Netherlands successively withdrew Patriot missiles, which led to the decline of Turkey’s air defense capability.
The S-400 purchased by Turkey this time is considered as the most advanced air defense missile system, which can intercept different types of air targets. Therefore, from a military point of view, purchasing a missile defense system from Russia will effectively enhance Turkey’s defense capability.
The rift between Turkey and its Western allies is deepening.
At the same time, with the outbreak of the Syrian crisis and the changes in Turkey’s domestic political situation, the rift between Turkey and its traditional Western allies is getting deeper and deeper.
In July 2016, an attempted military coup took place in Turkey. The Turkish government accused the Gulen forces of being behind the coup and demanded the extradition of Gulen himself from the United States, but the United States refused. On the other hand, the EU constantly accused the Erdogan government of the follow-up treatment of the attempted coup, which triggered diplomatic disputes.
From November 1 ST to 18 th, 2017, NATO held a military exercise in Norway. On the imaginary enemy exhibition board of the military exercise, the portrait of Turkey’s founding father Kemal and the name of Erdogan appeared. Turkish President Erdogan subsequently announced that Turkey had withdrawn from the NATO joint military exercise. This incident has deepened the rift between Turkey and NATO.
S-400 air defense missile system
Turkey will pursue a more independent foreign policy.
In addition, despite Turkey’s opposition, the United States has provided a steady stream of weapons to the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Force, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization. The analysis believes that Turkey’s purchase of S-400 is to show its strength to the West and prove that Turkey will pursue a more independent foreign policy.
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