Erdogan defies threatened US sanctions over missiles

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Erdogan defies threatened US sanctions over missiles
Istanbul, Oct 25 (AFP) Oct 25, 2020
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday hit back at a US threat of sanctions if Ankara activated Russian-built S-400 air defense systems despite Washington's opposition.

Turkey has confirmed the first test of the S-400 system despite repeated warnings of sanctions from its chief NATO ally, the United States.

"You told us to send back the S-400s. We are not a tribal state, we are Turkey," Erdogan said in a televised speech in Malatya, eastern Turkey.

The Pentagon on Friday strongly condemned "Turkey's testing of this system, which risks serious consequences for our security relationship."

Turkey faces potential sanctions under a 2017 law known as CAATSA, which mandates sanctions for any "significant" purchases of weapons from Russia.

Turkey had already been removed from the F-35 fighter jet program over the S-400 purchase.

Erdogan remained defiant on Sunday, saying: "Whatever your sanctions are, don't hesitate to apply them."

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