Ismail Demir: The US sanctions will not affect our military force

The head of Turkish defense industries, Ismail Demir, said today, Thursday, “The US sanctions will not negatively affect the Turkish defense ministry, army and security forces.”

He added, “Our projects are implemented through companies that the US sanctions did not extend to any of them, and will not affect the agreements and settlements signed before the date of the sanctions.” He explained that the Russian “S-400” system, which Turkey bought, is the best missile system compared to its counterparts.

He continued: “The US sanctions that affected figures in the Presidency of the Turkish defense industries do not coincide with the spirit of the alliance between the two countries and within the framework of NATO.”

“The issue of sanctions is not new,” he said, “Washington has been intending to impose these sanctions since 2017, and US officials have been declaring in several forums that sanctions are inevitable if Turkey does not abandon the Russian system.”

And he added: “This step was not surprising to us, and despite the sanctions, we do not hear negative messages from Washington that may disturb the spirit of alliance and friendship between the two sides, and we also do not send negative messages.”

He mentioned that the text of the US sanctions clarifies that the aim of this step is not to harm Turkish defense industries. He emphasized that one of his foundation’s priorities is to develop national defense industries projects instead of buying parts and equipment from abroad.

He continued, “The Turkish Defense Industries Presidency manages projects and does not directly import operations from abroad.”

Turning to the issue of Turkey’s desire to buy the American Patriot system, he said: “We have repeatedly presented to the United States our desire to buy the aforementioned system, but they have set untenable conditions.”

And Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that the US sanctions decision was a wrong step, legally and politically, stressing that “if the United States thinks strategically, it is in urgent need of Turkey in terms of policies in the region.”

Source: Anatolia