Turkey Threatens To Retaliate If US Blocks Sale Of 116 F-35s

[Swordsmyth]

In the latest sign that Turkey is seriously considering leaving NATO as its relationship with the security bloc (and the US in particular) continues to deteriorate, Turkish Prime Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned on Thursday that the country would retaliate if a bill being pushed by House Republicans to block arms sales to Turkey becomes law.
As Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey-defense/turkey-says-it-will-retaliate-if-u-s-halts-weapons-sales-idUSKBN1I7050) reports, lawmakers released details on Friday of a $717 billion annual defense policy bill that included a provision to temporarily halt weapons sales to Turkey. During an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk, Cavusoglu criticized the measure, saying it was wrong to impose such a restriction on a military ally, alluding to the fact that Turkey has graciously allowed the US to use its Encirlik air base to launch its air strikes against ISIS (as well as against Turkey's enemy the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad).

"If the United States imposes sanctions on us or takes such a step, Turkey will absolutely retaliate," Cavusoglu said. "What needs to be done is the U.S. needs to let go of this."
While still a ways away from becoming law the proposed US National Defense Authorization Act would block sales of "major" arms to Turkey until a report on the relationship between the US and Turkey (which is also a component of the law) is completed by the Pentagon.

The implied target of the bill would be the 116 F-35 Lightning II fighters that Washington has promised to sell Ankara, of which 100 are almost ready to be delivered.
The bill is in many ways a response to Turkey's recent purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Russia. Though Turkey's relationship with Russia is still far from amicable (indeed, the two countries almost became embroiled in a military confrontation after Turkey shot down a Russian jet that was allegedly flying through its airspace back in 2015), the purchase has unnerved NATO and the US. The Russian weapons, Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey-defense/turkey-says-it-will-retaliate-if-u-s-halts-weapons-sales-idUSKBN1I7050) notes, aren't compatible with NATO's defense systems.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-06/you-cant-control-us-turkey-threatens-retaliate-if-us-blocks-sale-116-f-35s

[Swordsmyth]

The German language Der Spiegel magazine in a recent editorial attempted to sound the alarm of encroaching Russian influence in NATO connected with Russia's advanced S-400 anti-aircraft systems.
"The Turkish government wants to buy the state-of-the-art Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system. NATO considers this a serious provocation: the system is not only incompatible with the alliance's existing defenses, but it could also expose secrets of the new US F-35 fighter jet to Russia, which Turkey also wants to buy,"according to a rough translation from the German.


Der Spiegel's editorial was published at end of a week in which the NATO/US and Turkish relationship threatened to reach a breaking point. As we previously reported Turkish Prime Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu recently warned that Turkey would retaliate if a bill being pushed by House Republicans to block arms sales to Turkey becomes law.
US lawmakers released details earlier this month (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey-defense/turkey-says-it-will-retaliate-if-u-s-halts-weapons-sales-idUSKBN1I7050) of a $717 billion annual defense policy bill that included a provision to temporarily halt weapons sales to Turkey (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-06/you-cant-control-us-turkey-threatens-retaliate-if-us-blocks-sale-116-f-35s). During a subsequent interview with broadcaster CNN Turk, Cavusoglu criticized the measure, saying it was wrong to impose such a restriction on a military ally, alluding to the fact that Turkey has graciously allowed the US to use its Encirlik air base to launch its air strikes against ISIS (as well as against Turkey's enemy the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad).
"If the United States imposes sanctions on us or takes such a step, Turkey will absolutely retaliate," Cavusoglu said. "What needs to be done is the U.S. needs to let go of this."
Will Turkey's retaliation come in the form moving forward with installation of Russia's S-400 missile system?
While still a ways away from becoming law (and its unclear if President Trump, who has publicly praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan) the proposed US National Defense Authorization Act would block sales of "major" arms to Turkey until a report on the relationship between the US and Turkey (which is also a component of the law) is completed by the Pentagon.
The implied target of the bill would be the 116 F-35 Lightning II fighters that Washington has promised to sell Ankara, of which 100 are almost ready to be delivered. The bill is in many ways a response to Turkey's recent purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Russia.
And interestingly, NATO is now pushing the idea that Russia supplying a NATO member with the advance S-400 would open up Turkey to unprecedented access to Russian spies, especially as the system installation would require months of technical training and Russian-Turkish military-to-military cooperation.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-13/moscows-eye-turkey-transfer-s-400-missiles-will-open-turkey-russian-spying-germanys

[nobody's_hero]

We should punish Turkey by giving them the F-35's for free.

[Raginfridus]

We should send Turkey a bunch of turkeys, with a note reading "Go fly these."

[Swordsmyth]

Now Turkey (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/turkey/), being faced with a possible embargo in Congress against purchasing other American high-performance equipment, such as the F-35, is threatening to purchase the Russian stealth fighter, the SU-57.
“Turkey (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/turkey/) is looking at buying Russian Su-57 fighter jets in case the United States refuses to sell its F-35 warplanes, Turkey (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/turkey/)’s YeniSafak reported on Sunday,” wrote Russian state news agency TASS. With Moscow’s state-controlled media, this little tidbit would not be released unless it was intended for Western consumption.
Congress is right. Why would we trust Mr. Erdogan (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/recep-erdogan/) with such sensitive technology? Who could be sure he wouldn’t just turn over one of the jets to his new BFF, Vlad?
It’s time we look at Turkey (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/turkey/) with clear eyes. NATO needs to move against this clear and present danger to the alliance. Creeping Sharia law and anti-American behavior, anti-EU behavior, is not congruent with being a member of NATO. How can we trust Turkey (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/turkey/) in any future conflict with Russia?
Yes, perhaps Turkey (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/turkey/) could change with the removal of Erdogan (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/recep-erdogan/) from the presidency, but that is unlikely.

More at: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/27/turkey-wants-buy-russian-su-57s/

[goldenequity]

Erdogan tells Turks ‘change dollars and euros to lira’
https://aml.ink/9k3be

https://i62.servimg.com/u/f62/19/91/31/78/giphy910.gif


=====



Russia And Turkey Reach Deal On "Southern Stream" Gas Pipeline, Infuriate Washington
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-27/russia-and-turkey-reach-deal-southern-stream-gas-pipeline-end-gas-dispuite

One and a half years after Russia and Turkey signed a deal to build the strategic "Turkish Stream" gas pipeline in October 2016,
on Saturday Russian state energy giant Gazprom and the Turkish government reached a deal on the construction of the land-based part of the Turkish Stream branch
that will bring Russian gas to European consumers.

The 2016 Turkstream consists of two branches
first branch will deliver gas to Turkish consumers
second one will bring it to the countries in southern and south-western Europe.
The European leg is expected to decrease Russia’s dependence on transit through Ukraine.
Each of the lines has a maximum capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters a year.

Gazprom finished the construction of the deep-water part of the first line of the Turkish Stream in April.
The first Russian gas could start flowing through both legs of the Turkish Stream by December 2019.

The greenlighting of the Turkish Stream project is sure to infuriate the US
which previously announced it was considering sanctions of European firms that would participate in the NorthStream Russian gas pipeline.

President Trump went as far as to threaten Angela Merkel two weeks ago,
telling her to either drop the Russian gas pipeline or the trade war with the US was set to begin.

How Europe reacts to US threats involving the NorthStream and, soon, the Turkish Stream,
will determine whether Europe will once again find itself a subservient vassal state to US military and energy lobbying powers,
or if Brussels will side with Putin in this growing conflict, resulting in an unprecedented breach within the so-called "democratic west."

[goldenequity]

Turkey's Erdogan offers Putin to jointly produce new S-500 missile system
https://aml.ink/oeFpf

Anadolu news agency has quoted the Turkish president as saying that Russia had given Ankara a loan to buy the S-400 missile systems on “very acceptable terms.”

“During the second and third stages we will proceed to the joint production of the S-500 systems,” Erdogan said.

The S-500 air defense system, to replace the current S-400 system, is being developed and is scheduled to enter service within the next 25 years.

Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu earlier said that the new system would start being supplied to the armed force in 2020.

In February, then-Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told the newspaper Kommersant that the production of truck-mounted S-500 and S-400 systems was already underway in Nizhny Novgorod.

Moscow and Ankara inked a loan agreement for the acquisition of four S-400 air defense missile battery systems in December 2017. The initial delivery of the Russian-made advanced missile system to Turkey is planned for the first quarter of 2020.

According to the Turkish Defense Industry Secretariat, Ankara will buy two batteries of S-400 missiles which will be manned by Turkish military personnel.

The S-500, to form the upper tier of Russia’s layered air defenses, is expected to be able to engage targets at altitudes of over 60 miles, to engage targets which are out of reach for all missile defense systems now in existence.

The system will be able to detect and simultaneously engage up to ten ballistic missile warheads flying at speeds of over four miles a second. Its one-of-a-kind self-homing warheads search for their targets and, finding them, switch to an automatic-homing mode.

The S-500 is also the only missile defense system capable of engaging hypersonic targets.
(hmmmm....)

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey's veiled threats fell on deaf ears and late on Monday the US Senate voted to block the transfer of the F-35 fighter jet to Turkey, reflecting not only US unwillingness to cooperate with any counterparty that does concurrent deals with Russia, but also increasing tension with a NATO ally, in a move that could ultimately hold up the sale of 100 warplanes worth close to $10bn. As the FT reports, a bipartisan clause added to the National Defense Authorization Act, and passed by the Senate late on Monday by a vote of 85 to 10, will prohibit the transfer of F-35s to Turkey until a plan is submitted to cut Turkey from participation in the program.
As we previewed last month, senators predictably made the intervention given concerns over Turkey’s intent to install the Russian-built S400 air defense system, which Pentagon officials fear would put the secrets of the F-35 and the data it collects at risk.
“Turkey is buying a missile system that will collect data on Nato’s frontline jet and, for various reasons, the US is trying to prevent that,” said Aaron Stein, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council. “Kicking Turkey out of the consortium won’t make anyone in Ankara happy and underscores how the two sides may not yet be at rock bottom in terms of the relationship.”
It's not quite an international diplomatic scandal quite yet: last night's vote is just the first step of the process: the bill, which must still be passed by the House, could undergo further changes in the reconciliation process and is not expected to become law until later in the summer.
Understandably, Turkey was angry: Binali Yildirim, Turkey’s prime minister, described the Senate decision as “lamentable” and against the spirit of the Nato partnership. In comments published by the Turkish broadcaster Haberturk, he also said Ankara was “not without alternatives” and would not be weakened by the move. An additional reason for Turkey's ire at the Senate decision is that the nation has been one of 14 NATO members that helped construct the stealth jet, along with the UK, Norway and Israel.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06-19/us-senate-blocks-sale-f-35-jets-turkey-due-russian-missile-deal

[RonZeplin]

The turks might have to buy some Chinese jets, are they any good?

[Swordsmyth]

Both Ankara and the Pentagon are set to complete a deal for F-35s, ignoring a decision by US lawmakers to torpedo the shipment of 100 fighter jets to Turkey. Their opinion doesn’t matter, Ankara has said.
“Necessary contacts have been made with the US, and delivery of the F-35 jets will be on Thursday,” Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters on Wednesday, two days after the US Senate voted overwhelmingly to block the deal.
Senators chose to call off the long-expected sale, citing Ankara’s plans to buy S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries from Russia, and the detention of an American citizen. The same decision had earlier been made by the House of Representatives, but the bill is yet to be signed by the president.


The vote in Congress does “not hold values for us,” another Turkish deputy PM, Hakan Cavusoglu, stated. “We will also definitely take the F-35s,” he said.
Ankara’s defiant stance is in tune with the Pentagon, which confirmed that the first jets will indeed be handed over on June 21. The manufacturer of the aircraft, Lockheed Martin, “will hold a rollout ceremony for Turkey this Thursday in Fort Worth, and the two jets will follow-on to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona at a later date,” Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews told CNN.

More at: https://www.infowars.com/pentagon-ignores-us-lawmakers-for-turkey-jet-deal/

[oyarde]

I did what I could .

[Swordsmyth]

I did what I could .

It is all up to Danke now.

[oyarde]

It is all up to Danke now.

I am doubtful he will come clean about his role .

[Swordsmyth]

I am doubtful he will come clean about his role .

Has he ever?

[Swordsmyth]

Lockheed Martin on Thursday delivered its first F-35 stealth fighter jet to Turkey, despite objections from some in Congress over Turkey's detention of a U.S. pastor and its plan to buy a Russian air defense system.
The F-35A Lightning II emblazoned with the star and crescent from the Turkish flag was unveiled at Lockheed Martin's sprawling Fort Worth plant in front of about 1,000 spectators, who also enjoyed Turkish traditional folk music and dancing.

The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act approved this week expressed opposition to Turkey's purchase of a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system (http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/aviation/CNN story: https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/19/politics/turkey-f35-congress-opposition/index.html), and its detention of U.S. pastor Andre Brunson.


But it's not yet known what form of the bill might clear the House and wind up on President Trump's desk.
Meanwhile, the first and second F-35s built for Turkey are headed to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Turkish pilots and maintenance workers will train on the aircraft for many months before taking them to the country, which straddles Europe and Asia and has long been considered a key U.S. ally.


Several Turkish contractors including Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc., play crucial roles in assembling parts for the F-35, said Doug Wilhelm, Lockheed vice president for the F-35 program.
About 30 percent of center fuselages installed on F-35s are built in Turkey, he said. Also, Turkish contractors play a prominent role in building components of the landing gear, forward fuselage, the electronics used by the pilot and some of the aircraft's composite skin, he said.


Plans call for Lockheed Martin to build at least two more planes for Turkey soon — and long-term, Turkey wishes to buy up to 100 of the stealth fighter jets.
On Thursday, some Senate members inserted language in an amendment (https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/21/politics/senate-new-block-f35-turkey/index.html) that would prohibit the transfer of the F-35s to Turkey unless the secretary of state's office certifies that Turkey has not gone through with plans to buy the Russian S-400 air defense system (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41237812). But that language could be difficult to enforce, given that Turkey was among nine nations who partnered beginning in 1999 to build the fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
The F-35 is believed to be among just a handful of military weapons that get past the Russian S-400 anti-aircaft missiles.

More at: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/aviation/article213519199.html

[Swordsmyth]

Following upon previous warnings, the US State Department has again threatened that Turkey will be targeted by sanctions if it receives the S-400 from Russia under a contract finalized between Ankara and Moscow at the end of 2017, said to be worth $2.5 billion (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-turkey-missiles/turkey-russia-sign-deal-on-supply-of-s-400-missiles-idUSKBN1EN0T5).

The State Department recalled (https://southfront.org/us-state-department-once-again-threatens-turkey-with-sanctions-over-s-400-systems-purchase/) that this decision is a result of the bill President Donald Trump signed into law last summer, which seeks to punish companies that do business with the Russian defense industry.
On Tuesday a top State Department official — Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell — stated the following at a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey-fighterjets/u-s-official-warns-turkey-on-f-35-deal-over-russia-system-idUSKBN1JM2EM):

“We made it clear that if Turkey buys S-400s… there will be consequences. We will introduce sanctions within Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).”
“We believe that we have existing legal authorities that would allow us to withhold transfer under certain circumstances, including national security concerns,” he said. “We believe that we continue to have the time and ability to ensure Turkey does not move forward on S-400 before having to take a decision on – on F-35. We’re being very clear in our messaging to the Turks that there will be consequences.”
And notably Mitchell also highlighted Turkey's deteriorating human rights record, estimating that about two dozen Americans remain illegally detained in the country, many of them dual nationals (though we should note that Washington only plays the 'human rights' card on allies selectively and when convenient).
In spite of Lockheed Martin's formal "handover" the US has plenty of time (perhaps years even) to block the F-35 contract while Congress firms up the legal basis for such a maneuver after the Senate Appropriations Committee recently added an amendment (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06-25/us-senate-bans-sale-f-35s-turkey-dealing-unreliable-partner) to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2019 that would put a stop to future deliveries should Ankara refuse to cancel the S-400 deal.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06-27/who-will-call-first-bluff-us-threatens-turkey-sanctions-over-russian-s-400-purchase

[Swordsmyth]

A U.S. official has said the United States is offering to sell Turkey the Patriot missile defense system as it attempts to persuade Ankara not to purchase Russia's S-400 system, Reuters reported July 16.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/turkey-us-talks-sell-patriot-missile-system-alternative-russian-s-400

[Swordsmyth]

Congressional defense lawmakers officially barred deliveries of the fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Turkish forces, inserting the ban into the final version of the Pentagon’s budget blueprint for the upcoming fiscal year.
House and Senate conferees adopted the legislation, which prohibits shipments of the advanced, multi-role jet fighter to Ankara’s forces until the Pentagon delivers “an assessment of a significant change in Turkish participation in the F-35 program, including the potential elimination of such participation,” defense lawmakers wrote.
Defense lawmakers also demanded the immediate release of U.S. Pastor Andrew Brunson, as well as any other “U.S. citizens wrongfully or unlawfully detained in Turkey (https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/turkey/),” in legislative language included in the defense spending bill, now headed to the White House for President Trump’s signature.

More at: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jul/24/congress-officially-blocks-f-35-fighter-shipments-/

[Swordsmyth]

A Turkish court has ruled that F35 stealth jets..."poor health" is the reason for the transfer of an American pastor who has been held for two years on "terrorism" and "espionage" charges.
It appears yesterday's controversial Congressional vote to block sale of Lockheed Martin's advanced F-35 stealth fighter to Turkey may already be having an effect as less than 12 hours after the House and Senate adopted the legislation, American Pastor Andrew Brunson has been released from a Turkish prison and placed into house arrest.

US pastor Andrew Brunson has left jail and is on his way to his way to his home in the city of Izmir, according to Turkish TV station A Haber. He has spent almost two years behind bars on espionage and terror charges. Will remain under house arrest. pic.twitter.com/dFxjuuat6k (https://t.co/dFxjuuat6k)
— Laura Pitel (@laurapitel) July 25, 2018 (https://twitter.com/laurapitel/status/1022128053915463682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Brunson's family is "elated" according to media statements. His wife reportedly waited for his release from a prison in the western part of the country.
He will be confined to his residence in Turkey where he can have interaction with his family and move freely within the confines; however, he will continue to proceed through his trial in the Turkish legal system.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Brunson%20Turkey%20f35.jpg
Pastor Brunson, a 50-year-old evangelical pastor from Black Mountain, North Carolina detained in 2016, faces charges including espionage and aiding terrorist groups after being accused of cooperating with "Kurdish terrorists" and colluding with the Gulenist Islamic movement; he faces up to 35 years in prison if found guilty. He has now been in Turkish custody for nearly two years.
Turkey's Hurriyet Daily summarized the legal declaration of Brunson's house arrest (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-court-rules-for-house-arrest-for-pastor-brunson-134988):

The Second High Penal Court in the western province of İzmir had rejected Brunson (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/search/Brunson)’s plea for release on July 18, deciding to continue listening to the testimonies of witnesses in the next hearing scheduled for Oct. 12.
Following an objection from Brunson (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/search/Brunson)’s attorney İsmail Cem Halavurt, however, the same court ruled on July 25 to move Brunson (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/search/Brunson) from prison to house arrest (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/search/arrest) citing the “health excuse” that was stressed in the plea.
The court also banned Brunson (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/search/Brunson) from leaving Turkey and imposed a judicial control decision.
Previously, President Trump has personally called for Brunson's release in multiple public statements, saying as recently as a week ago on twitter while directly addressing the Turkish president (https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/18/politics/trump-calls-for-turkey-to-release-pastor/index.html): "A total disgrace that Turkey will not release a respected U.S. Pastor, Andrew Brunson, from prison. He has been held hostage far too long. Erdogan should do something to free this wonderful Christian husband & father. He has done nothing wrong, and his family needs him."
And in April Trump tweeted about the pastor: "They call him a Spy, but I am more a Spy than he is. Hopefully he will be allowed to come home to his beautiful family where he belongs."

Pastor Andrew Brunson, a fine gentleman and Christian leader in the United States, is on trial and being persecuted in Turkey for no reason. They call him a Spy, but I am more a Spy than he is. Hopefully he will be allowed to come home to his beautiful family where he belongs!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/986432143189512192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) American diplomats have also previously warned the arrest is part of the Turkish government’s policy of "hostage diplomacy" and further warned the issue could trigger "unprecedented sanctions" — something Congress followed through on in its passage of the 2019 the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which locks transfer of the advanced stealth fighter, each aircraft costing at least $100 million.
The Pentagon’s budget blueprint for the upcoming fiscal year will now go the president's desk with language in it that calls for the immediate release of Brunson. The bill also mentions immediate release of any other "U.S. citizens wrongfully or unlawfully detained in Turkey" and calls for improved human rights under the increasingly authoritarian Turkish state and - ironically - NATO ally.
Pastor Brunson's fate has lately become bound up with a broader tense geopolitical standoff between the US, Turkey, and Russia connected to Ankara's pursuing a contract for Russia's advanced S-400 anti-missile defense system, said to be worth $2.5 billion (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-turkey-missiles/turkey-russia-sign-deal-on-supply-of-s-400-missiles-idUSKBN1EN0T5). State Department officials have lately to warned of sanctions (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06-27/who-will-call-first-bluff-us-threatens-turkey-sanctions-over-russian-s-400-purchase) over the defense shield's installation, rare to the point of being unheard of when it comes to NATO allies, specifically because of fears that Russia would get simultaneously gain access to the extremely advanced Joint Strike Fighter stealth aircraft, enabling Moscow to detect and exploit its vulnerabilities.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the ruling on Wednesday, but added that "it is not enough".
Interestingly, though the court cited "poor health" as its reason to grant transfer to house arrest, it appears that Turkey is trying to soften what's now clearly US Congress' strong-fisted resolve to follow through on Washington's threats on the matter.



https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-07-25/turkey-transfers-american-pastor-house-arrest-following-congress-f-35-ban

[timosman]

1022502465147682817

[Swordsmyth]

It now costs more than 4.9 Turkish Lira to buy a US dollar once again as President Erdogan's 'threats' that his country will not "make a step back" and that the US will lose a "strong and sincere ally" if President Trump imposes "large sanctions" until the pastor is freed.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-07-30_5-54-30_0.jpg
Speaking to the local media, Erdogan said "you can’t make Turkey take a step back with sanctions", and accused Trump of waging a "psychological war," the Daily Sabah reported (https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2018/07/29/brunson-not-a-part-of-prisoner-swap-deal-erdogan).

Erdogan also said that the US "should not forget that it will lose a strong and sincere partner" if "the U.S. does not change its stance" regarding pastor Brunson.
"Instead of respecting the ruling they are making this a matter of sanctioning Turkey."
There is a small glint of hope in US-Turkey relations as Turkey’s state-run TRT reports that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Singapore.
As we noted previously (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-07-29/turkeys-erdogan-warns-us-will-lose-strong-and-sincere-ally-if-it-imposes-sanctions), the drama over the fate of the US pastor escalated after US Congress banned the shipment of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey amid objections over Turkey’s plans to buy S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia. Erdoğan's government said it was adamant on pushing ahead with the purchase of the American fighter jets, and the Turkish president said he would seek "justice by international arbitration" if the US fails to deliver the fighter jets.
Another key topic of disagreement between the US and Turkey is the fate of Iranian oil imports: Turkey, a long-time client of Tehran, has been resisting US pressure to stop importing Iranian crude which the State Department has demanded its allies do by November 4. Ankara believes that US foreign and economic policy decisions are not binding for Turkey, arguing that any Iranian sanctions must be conducted under the UN-mandated international law.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-07-30_6-07-00.jpg
While the timing and nature of potential sanctions remain uncertain, Bloomberg notes that investors are bracing for any developments that would slow the flow of funds into Turkey and pressure the currency which is already flirting with a record low against the dollar. Turkey relies on short-term portfolio flows for a large percentage of its financing needs, and a further slide in the lira threatens to fuel inflation and hamper companies’ ability to pay back their foreign-currency debts.
“I think the pair will easily test and surpass the all-time high near 4.9745,” said Win Thin, a strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., adding that the central bank may call an emergency meeting if the pressure on the currency intensifies.


https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-07-30/turkish-lira-resumes-freefall-after-erdogan-theats

[Swordsmyth]

The Trump administration on Wednesday sanctioned top Turkish officials over the country’s detention of American pastor Andrew Craig Brunson.
The Treasury Department sanctions, first announced by the White House, target Turkey's minister of justice and minister of interior over the holding of the 50-year-old pastor.
“Pastor Brunson’s unjust detention and continued prosecution by Turkish officials is simply unacceptable,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. “President Trump has made it abundantly clear that the United States expects Turkey to release him immediately.”
The administration said the two sanctioned officials -- Turkey's Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu -- both played leading roles in the organizations responsible for Brunson's arrest and detention. The sanctions effectively block any property or interest in property controlled by them in the U.S., and bar Americans from engaging in transactions with them.

More at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/08/01/trump-administration-sanctions-turkish-officials-over-detained-american-pastor.html

[Swordsmyth]

It would appear that Turkish President Erdogan is not a fan of Kenny Rogers as he watches his nation's currency collapse into worthlessness, he refuses to "fold 'em", instead doubling down on retaliatory threats against the Trump administration.
The U.S. “move will likely only incense Erdogan and a commensurate response is already promised,” Timothy Ash, a strategist at BlueBay Asset Management in London, said in emailed comments.
Turkey remains particularly exposed to shifts in investor sentiment, given its large external financing needs, and the reaction is clear - another 5 handle collapse in the Lira to a new record low...
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-08-02_5-51-45.jpg
As The Telegraph reports, the Turkish foreign ministry warned that Washington's sanctions move "will greatly damage constructive efforts" to solve outstanding issues and told Washington it would retaliate.

"Without delay, there will be a response to this aggressive attitude that will not serve any purpose," it said.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who is set to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the next few days, also warned that the move "will not go without response".

“The market lurches from one negative event to another,” said Nigel Rendell, a senior analyst at Medley Global Advisors in London. “The net result being the erosion of foreign appetite for Turkish assets and an ever weaker lira.”
As Bloomberg notes, the one-year dollar-lira currency swap rate jumped to the biggest premium on record to the three-month contract after the central bank unexpectedly refrained from raising rates on July 24 -- a sign that investors are demanding more compensation for longer-dated securities to protect themselves against an acceleration in price growth.

“It’s bad,” said Cristian Maggio, head of emerging-market research at TD Securities in London. “Diplomacy has never been that bad in many years, the economy is slowing and there’s a concrete risk of a hard landing; from a financial viewpoint, the central bank will be forced to hike again unless the upside dollar-lira move reverses, but I’m afraid it won’t.”
Finally, as a reminder, these are one-for-all, all-for-one NATO allies... food for thought eh?


https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-02/turkish-lira-bloodbath-continues-erdogan-threatens-retaliation

[Swordsmyth]

In retaliation to Washington's sanctions against Ankara announced last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Saturday that Turkey will freeze the assets of the US Justice and Interior Ministers in Turkey, state-run Anadolu news agency reported (https://www.aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/erdogan-turkey-to-freeze-assets-of-2-us-secretaries/1222563).
"The latest step taken by the U.S. in the incident of Pastor Brunson in İzmir was not suitable to a strategic partner. It is a disrespectful step against Turkey." Erdoğan said in a speech at the ruling Justice and Development Party's congress for its women's organization in Ankara on Aug. 4.
"The decision to freeze assets of Turkish justice, interior ministers in the US is illogical. We were patient until last night but I am now instructing my friends today. We will freeze assets, if there are any, of the U.S. justice and interior secretaries in Turkey," Erdogan said adding that "those who think that they can make Turkey take a step back by resorting to threatening language and absurd sanctions proves that they do not know the Turkish nation."

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-04/turkey-freezes-assets-us-government-officials-retaliation-sanctions

[Swordsmyth]

The Turkish lira tumbled to a record low against the dollar on Monday, after the Trump administration said it was reviewing Turkey's duty-free access to the U.S. market, a move that could affect some $1.66 billion of Turkish imports. The review by the U.S. Trade Representative's office, announced on Friday, came after Ankara imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in response to American tariffs on steel and aluminium.

A USTR spokeswoman said the review was unrelated to issues surrounding Brunson, - a case that has prompted U.S. sanctions against two Turkish cabinet ministers.

More at: https://www.businessinsider.com/turkish-lira-hits-record-low-after-us-says-reviewing-its-market-access-2018-8

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey and the United States have reportedly reached an agreement for the release of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, Hurriyet Daily News reported Aug. 7, citing anonymous diplomatic sources.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/turkey-rumors-emerge-deal-over-us-pastor

[goldenequity]

US officers at Incirlik air base sued by Turkish lawyers for terrorist ties
https://sptnkne.ws/jp3Q

https://cdn3.img.sputniknews.com/images/106524/87/1065248754.jpg

The attorneys seek the detention of
►US Cols. John Waler, Michael Manion, David Eaglen and David Trucksa;
►Lt. Cols.Tim Cook and Mack Coker;
►Sgts. Thomas Cooper and Vegas Clark,
according to Stars and Stripes.
General Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command, is also named in the complaint.

The Turkish attorneys want to temporarily halt all operations at the Incirlik base to execute a search warrant, Stars and Stripes reported Wednesday.


(this is hardball. A mexican standoff.
Losing Incirlik is what's for dinner...
'sanctions' r child's play and Erdogan is kray kray.

Trump had better call off his treasury pit bulls..... and their Turkish 'hit list'...
or Incirlik street names will be redone in Cyrillic faster than you can say S-400. )

[Swordsmyth]

US officers at Incirlik air base sued by Turkish lawyers for terrorist ties
https://sptnkne.ws/jp3Q

https://cdn3.img.sputniknews.com/images/106524/87/1065248754.jpg

The attorneys seek the detention of
►US Cols. John Waler, Michael Manion, David Eaglen and David Trucksa;
►Lt. Cols.Tim Cook and Mack Coker;
►Sgts. Thomas Cooper and Vegas Clark,
according to Stars and Stripes.
General Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command, is also named in the complaint.

The Turkish attorneys want to temporarily halt all operations at the Incirlik base to execute a search warrant, Stars and Stripes reported Wednesday.


(this is hardball. A mexican standoff.
Losing Incirlik is what's for dinner...
'sanctions' r child's play and Erdogan is kray kray.

Trump had better call off his treasury pit bulls..... and their Turkish 'hit list'...
or Incirlik street names will be redone in Cyrillic faster than you can say S-400. )

Time to pack up our bags and leave Turkey.

[Swordsmyth]

U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his spat with Turkey on Friday by imposing higher tariffs on metal imports, putting unprecedented economic pressure on a NATO ally and deepening turmoil in Turkish financial markets.

Criticizing the state of the U.S. relationship with Ankara, Trump announced on Twitter that he had authorized a doubling of duties on aluminum and steel imported from Turkey, making them 20 percent and 50 percent respectively.
The White House said Trump would use a section of U.S. law that allows for tariffs on national security grounds to impose the increased duties.
Washington and Ankara have been at odds for months over an American pastor detained in Turkey, the Syrian civil war and other diplomatic issues.
Trump’s move sent Turkey’s lira currency deeper into tailspin. The lira, which has long been falling on worries about the government’s influence over monetary policy and the U.S. tensions, plunged more than 18 percent at one point on Friday to a record low against the dollar.
Even before Trump’s announcement, President Tayyip Erdogan told Turks to exchange gold and dollars for lira in order to fight “an economic war.” Waves from the crisis spread abroad, with investors selling off shares in European banks with large exposure to the Turkish economy. nL5N1V12A6]
“I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!” Trump said in an early morning post on Twitter.
“Aluminum will now be 20 percent and Steel 50 percent. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!”

More at: https://in.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-currency-usa/trump-doubles-tariffs-on-turkish-steel-and-aluminum-says-relations-not-good-idINKBN1KV1HA?il=0

[Swordsmyth]

Following emergency bank meetings and numerous pleas by Erdogan for Turks not to "pull FX out of their banks," blaming the country's current economic crisis on America, the Lira has opened massively weaker - crashing below 7.00 per dollar for the first time ever...
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-08-12_12-00-55.jpg
That is the second day in a row that the lira has crashed over 75 handles!!!
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-08-12_12-25-30.jpg
As The FT reports, (https://www.ft.com/content/86533b0a-9e44-11e8-85da-eeb7a9ce36e4?FTCamp=engage/CAPI/desktopapp/Channel_Bloomberg//B2B) Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused other countries on Sunday of mounting an “operation” to bring down the Turkish economy...

“What is the cause of this storm?” he asked a gathering of ruling party officials in the Black Sea city of Trabzon. “There is no economic reason . . . It’s an operation against Turkey.”
But gave no indication he would meet investors’ demands for an emergency plan to prop up the plunging lira.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-08-12_12-03-22_0.jpg


"I’m calling out to industrialists, do not attack banks to buy FX," said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a speech in Trabzon.
"It is industrialists’ duty too to keep this nation on its feet. Otherwise we will set into motion our plan B and C," he added.
Sounds very scary - Plan B and C... we can guess that the 'B' stands for 'Block' capital outflows and 'C' stands for confiscation of gold and dollars.
Reuters reports a low level of 7.22 - all of which implies the Turkish banking system is done (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-07/goldman-warns-turkish-banks-will-be-wiped-out-if-lira-hits-71).
As Goldman Sachs warned, further lira depreciation to 7.1 would erode all of Turkey's banks' excess capital.


More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-12/lira-crashes-through-700-erdogan-urges-turks-not-pull-money-out-banks

[Swordsmyth]

President Donald Trump "has a great deal of frustration," with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a briefing Tuesday, calling again on the Turkish "executive president" to release pastor Brunson and other U.S. citizens as the diplomatic standoff between the two nations continued to weigh on global markets.
"We’re going to continue to call on Turkey to do the right thing and release those individuals," including pastor Andrew Brunson, Sanders said.
The statement came shortly after a White House official said that the United States warned more economic pressures may be in store for Turkey if it refuses to release the jailed American pastor. The message emerged a day after White House national security adviser John Bolton met privately with Turkish ambassador Serdar Kilic about the case of evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson. Bolton warned him that the United States would not give any ground, a senior U.S. official said.
The White House official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said "nothing has progressed" thus far on the Brunson case.

"The administration is going to stay extremely firm on this. The president is 100 percent committed to bringing Pastor Brunson home and if we do not see actions in the next few days or a week there could be further actions taken," the official said.
Further actions would likely take the form of economic sanctions, the official said, who added: The pressure is going to keep up if we're not seeing results.
Trump doubled tariffs on imports of Turkish steel and aluminum last week, contributing to a precipitous fall in the lira which has lost a quarter of its value this month. The United States is also considering a fine against Turkeys state-owned Halkbank for allegedly helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions. Earlier this month, the United States imposed sanctions on two top officials in President Recep Tayyip Erdogans cabinet in an attempt to get Turkey to turn over Brunson.
In response, on Tuesday Erdogan vowed to boycott American electronics, (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-14/turkey-boycott-iphones-and-us-electronic-goods-erdogan-vows)including iPhones, in a defiance of Trump’s demands. And while even a widespread Turkish boycott would do little to dent U.S. economic interests, it shows Erdogan is refusing to give in to market turmoil that’s pushed borrowing costs to record highs and threatens to descend the nation into a financial crisis.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-14/trump-has-great-deal-frustration-erdogan

[Swordsmyth]

The White House on Wednesday condemned Turkey’s doubling of tariffs on U.S. cars, alcohol and tobacco imports, calling the action “a step in the wrong direction.”

Sanders said Brunson’s release would not lead to an easing in the tariffs, but that it could lead to an easing in sanctions.
“The tariffs that are in place on steel will not be removed with the release of pastor Brunson. The tariffs are specific to national security,” she said.
“The sanctions, however, that have been placed on Turkey are specific to pastor Brunson and others that we feel are being held unfairly, and we would consider that at that point,” Sanders added.

More at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-currency-usa/white-house-condemns-turkeys-tariffs-on-u-s-imports-idUSKBN1L020G?il=0

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey is ready to discuss its ongoing issues with the United States as long as there are no threats, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday, amid a widening dispute between the NATO allies that has sent the Turkish currency plunging.

More at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-usa/turkey-says-ready-to-discuss-issues-with-u-s-without-threats-idUSKBN1L020U?il=0

[Swordsmyth]

The Lira and Turkish stocks are sliding notably after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned that Washington is preparing more sanctions for Turkey due to the lack of progress on the release of Pastor Brunson.
Following a Turkish court's refusal yesterday to release American pastor Andrew Brunson, Mnuchin warned at a White House cabinet meeting today that U.S. has more sanctions prepared for Turkey if Brunson isn't quickly released.
Additionally, as Bloomberg reports, President Donald Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday that Turkey hasn’t turned out to be a great friend to the U.S., and he complained that his administration secured the release of a Turkish citizen from an unnamed country on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s behalf.

“We got somebody out for him,” Trump said, from “some place,” but Turkey continues to hold pastor Andrew Brunson. It’s “not right” and a “terrible thing,” he said.
The Lira is seeing the biggest dip in 3 days, erasing all overnight gains in just a few minutes...
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-08-16_9-46-53.jpg

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-16/turkey-stocks-lira-slide-after-mnuchin-threatens-more-sanctions

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey was "ready to talk about everything" with the U.S.

More at: https://www.investors.com/market-trend/stock-market-today/stocks-china-turkey-2/?src=A00220&yptr=yahoo

[Swordsmyth]

After a week in which Turks were encouraged to engage in PR stunts like smashing, burning, and shooting their iPhones, and as the lira took a nose dive of 16% against the dollar after President Trump authorized doubling tariffs (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/us/politics/trump-turkey-tariffs-currency.html) on steel and aluminum imports from Turkey, it doesn't appear these efforts have done much to significantly dent iPhone sales in Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan encouraged Turks to boycott Apple and other US electronic products this week: "If they have iPhone, there is Samsung on the other side. And we have our Venus and Vestel. We are going to produce enough for ourselves. We have to serve better quality goods than we are importing from them," he urged (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/14/erdogan-says-turkey-will-boycott-us-electronic-goods-including-apple.html) in a Tuesday speech.
But despite Turkish media giving the boycott extensive coverage and a spate of YouTube videos showing citizens burning dollar bills and destroying Apple's iPhones, it appears Turks are still buying the US product. Or at least we could say there's nothing substantive to prove the boycott is having the desired impact.


Though limited to the level of anecdotal testimonial, Russian state-run Sputnik has surveyed a dozen or more iPhone salespersons and consumers at stores in Turkey.
Below are some of the highlights from these interviews (https://sputniknews.com/business/201808191067316734-turkey-erdogan-us-iphone-ankara-citizens/):

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a salesman from one of Ankara's mobile phone outlets told Sputnik that "both prices and a balance of purchases [in the city] remain unchanged" and that three out of ten customers are still interested in buying an iPhone, while the remaining seven customers prefer Samsung models and those made by other manufacturers.
And one Turkish iPhone customer interviewed believes that Erdogan's call to abandon the US-made electronic goods is more emotional than real: "The turnover of funds in the Turkish electronics market amounts to millions of dollars, and swiftly pulling the plug will mean a full-fledged economic blow to mainly domestic entrepreneurs. No one seeks to implement this task," the man identified only as Ali explained (https://sputniknews.com/business/201808191067316734-turkey-erdogan-us-iphone-ankara-citizens/).
A number of Turks said their feelings about purchasing or using an iPhone would not be altered based on coercion from the state, such as an engineer named Orhand, who said:

"As far as I know, in terms of the number of the phones that have been sold the, iPhone occupies 7 percent of the market, but in terms of money iPhone accounts for 26 percent. These phones are very expensive for people to buy. Most Turks buy Samsung models, which occupy more than 50 percent of the country's market.
Another consumer noted of her iPhone that she was "very disappointed with it because Apple is constantly updating my gadget without asking my permission" but balked at the idea that Erdogan's call to boycott would have any effect on her decisions.
A further young person interviewed said such demands to boycott from Ankara would like turn Turkey's youth against the state: "But I am against the state, not me, deciding on what brand of a mobile phone people should use and what brand they should give up," he said.
Pricing for the iPhone X starts at 7,499 Turkish lira, which at the current exchange rate is now over $1,245. At such a price — which had been high even before the lira's dive — there likely weren't a flood of Turks lining up to get it in the first place.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-19/erdogans-boycott-call-fails-hurt-iphone-sales-turkey-report

[Swordsmyth]

An unknown gunman fired several gunshots from a passing vehicle at the US embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Monday, hitting a window in a security cabin but causing no casualties, police and broadcaster CNN Turk reported. The attack has coincided with a deepening row between Ankara and Washington over the trial of a U.S. pastor in Turkey.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/embassy%20turk1.jpg
A police officer told Reuters at the scene the drive-by shooting occurred around 5 a.m. (0200 GMT) and that nobody was hurt. The embassy was closed for a weeklong public holiday to mark the Islamic Eid al-Adha festival.
Broadcaster Haberturk showed police teams inspecting one of the entrances to the embassy and apparent damage caused by a gunshot could be seen in one window. It said empty cartridges were found at the scene.

#BREAKING (https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw): Shots fired at the US Embassy in Ankara #Turkey (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Turkey?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), targeting the security guards booth pic.twitter.com/Zg5VJHyB5M (https://t.co/Zg5VJHyB5M)
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 20, 2018 (https://twitter.com/AmichaiStein1/status/1031392045682892801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Commenting on the shooting, an Erdogan spokesman said that the shooting at the US embassy was a clear attempt to create chaos.
Police teams were searching for the assailants, who fled in a white car after the attack, CNN Turk said. Four or five gunshots were heard, it said.
The U.S. embassy in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul have been the targets of attacks by militants and have faced numerous security threats in the past.
Separately, in the latest diplomatic escalation between the US and Turkey, the WSJ reported (https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-rebuffs-effort-to-tether-bank-fine-to-pastors-release-1534721674?mod=hp_lead_pos1), citing a White House official, that the Trump administration has "rejected an effort by Turkey to tie the release of a U.S. pastor with relief for a major Turkish bank facing billions of dollars in U.S. fines," and has told Ankara other issues are off the table until the minister is freed.

Following the shooting, together with the WSJ report of the news of the US hardline negotiating stance, the Turkish Lira slumped against the dollar despite the weeklong Turkish holiday, and was the worst performing currency against the dollar in today's session.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-20/gunman-shoots-us-embassy-turkey-us-rebuffs-all-negotiations-over-pastors-release

[Swordsmyth]

Rosoboronexport’s Director General Alexander Mikheev said (https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20180821/1526932527.html) that the defense company would begin implementing a contract for the supply of its advanced S-400 missile defense systems to Turkey in 2019, the RIA Novosti reported.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Screen-Shot-2018-08-22-at-10.41.06-AM-768x354.png
“The contract [on the S-400 supplies to Turkey] will be implemented within the agreed time limits. In 2019 we will start implementing the contract,” the company’s director general and CEO Aleksandr Mikheev told reporters on Tuesday.
Washington has expressed great concern that NATO member Turkey’s upcoming deployment of the Russian S-400s could pose a serious security risk for U.S.-made weapons used by Turkey, including the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation combat aircraft.
Rosoboronexport told Turkey it would switch to the Lira, instead of using the dollar to complete the transaction, the RIA news agency reported.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-22/turkey-prepares-first-batch-russian-s-400-air-defense-missiles

[Swordsmyth]

The Turkish regime was given an ultimatum by the U.S. Senate this past week: either abandon their acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defenses system or face expulsion from the F-35 program. According to a report from Bloomberg, the U.S. Senate recently gave this ultimatum to Turkey after the latter continued with their acquisition of the S-400 air defense system.


“For Turkey to remain in the F-35 program, it can’t move ahead with procurement” of the Russian system known as the S-400, Senator James Inhofe said in a statement.

More at: https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkey-given-ultimatum-from-us-senate-abandon-s-400-sale-or-no-f-35s/

Hat Tip: goldenequity

[Swordsmyth]

The New York prosecutor's office has withdrawn an appeal to extend the sentence of Hakan Atilla, a former executive of Halkbank who was convicted of violating sanctions on Iran, the Hurriyet Daily News reported Dec. 7.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/turkey-us-prosecutor-reportedly-withdraws-appeal-halkbank-sentence-extension

[Swordsmyth]

Just days after President Erdogan insulted the White House by snubbing National Security Advisor John Bolton, (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-09/boltons-continued-humiliation-turkey-seeks-coordination-iran-and-russia-us-exit) Turkey has delivered its latest middle finger to the US by refusing to abandon its agreement to buy S-400 air defense systems from Moscow - a precondition for buying American-made Patriot air defense systems, according to RT. (https://www.rt.com/news/448484-cavusoglu-remarks-patriot-s400/)
If the US ties the sales to Ankara with Turkey tearing up its existing arms deal with Moscow, Ankara will have no choice but to choose the latter, said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, adding that the deal to buy the S-400s has already been finalized.
"The S-400 deal has already been finalized. We can agree with the US on the Patriot system, but not if there will be [a condition] to abandon the S-400s," the minister said during an interview with state TV.
Cavusoglu added that Ankara had received the proposal to buy weapon and would consider the terms - but warned against Washington attempting to meddle in Ankara's relationship with Moscow.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-10/ankara-refuses-washingtons-ultimatum-abandon-arms-deal-moscow

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey is now venting its wrath as its F-35 standoff with Washington is thrust to the next level, and after Friday President Trump signed a spending bill that blocks further F-35 transfers until November 1st of 2019, which gives the White House a window of time to evaluate if Ankara will indeed move forward with transfer of Russia's S-400 air defense system to Turkey. Amidst the Pastor Andrew Brunson detention affair which drew widespread media attention last summer Congressional leaders demanded that the over 100 Lockheed Martin-made F-35 stealth jets purchased by Turkey be blocked from delivery. Following Brunson's release, the bigger security issue became Turkey's seeking the S-400.
On Wednesday the chairman of Turkey's Defense Industry Directorate Ismail Demir addressed this more pressing and latest issue to hold up the F-35 sale — the question of reception of the Russian S-400 while simultaneously rejecting the US offer to sell American-made Patriot defense systems.


“There is need to talk about conditions, there are a series of issues that must be clarified” he told pro-government news channel NTV (https://ahvalnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/ahvalnews.com/node/39754?amp). He further ruled out the American Patriot defense systems as it currently stands, according to Turkish media reports. He further stated that (https://ahvalnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/ahvalnews.com/node/39754?amp) "delivery process of S-400 to Turkey will start by July 2019 and the system will be active by October of 2019" in a staunch assertion sure to be noticed by the Pentagon.
The advanced S-400 air defense system purchased by Turkey has been seen as a threat by the United States, given the potential for compromising the F-35 advanced radar evading and electronics capabilities. The main argument for blocking the F-35 transfer is the fear that Russia would get access to the extremely advanced Joint Strike Fighter stealth aircraft, enabling Moscow to detect and exploit its vulnerabilities. Russia would ultimately learn how the S-400 could take out an F-35.
Beginning early last summer the US State Department threatened that Turkey would be targeted by sanctions if it receives the S-400 from Russia under a contract finalized between Ankara and Moscow at the end of 2017, said to be worth $2.5 billion (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-turkey-missiles/turkey-russia-sign-deal-on-supply-of-s-400-missiles-idUSKBN1EN0T5). Coupled with that threat has remained the blockage of the over 100 F-35's.
During his Wednesday comments, Ismail Demir also confirmed that Turkey received two F-35 jets from the US and it hopes to receive the next pair by next month. Earlier in the week Turkish President Erdogan said during a speech that three unmet conditions for the purchase of the Patriots must be deciding factors: technology transfer, co-production and financial support.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-20/turkey-receive-russian-s-400-delivery-summer-rejects-us-patriot-offer

[Swordsmyth]

Last Friday we reported (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-03-29/erdogan-remains-unmoved-us-senate-moves-kill-f-35-transfer-turkey)that Turkey slammed the door on Washington's demands that it cancel its S-400 contract with Moscow in the wake of continued US threats that it will deny transfer of F-35s to Turkey over the Erdogan government's plans to move forward with taking delivery of the advanced Russian anti-air defense system in July.
This took place one day after four US senators introduced a bipartisan bill last Thursday to prohibit the transfer of the F-35 until the US can certify that Ankara will reject the S-400 deal. But Turkish officials reiterated their prior stance that it's a "done deal" and that Turkey won't back down.
"We have signed a deal with Russia, and this deal is valid. Now we are discussing the delivery process," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/turkey-rejects-pressure-russian-400-missile-deal-190329112122402.html) during a press conference while standing beside his Russian counterpart. He added that "We have an agreement with Russia and we are bound by it." Confirming Turkey is set to take delivery from the Russians in July of this year, Cavusoglu added that every aspect of Turkish defense purchases were legitimate and in accord with international law.
The foreign minister also noted that Ankara has met its obligations to Lockheed Martin, producer of the F-35 stealth fighter. "Turkey is also a partner in the F-35 project. Some parts are being made in here in Turkey. Turkey has fulfilled its responsibilities in this regard," the minister said.
* * *
Fast forward to today when, with Erdogan still smarting from one of his biggest electoral losses in decades in local elections which saw the ruling AKP lose control over the capital Ankara and, most likely, Istanbul as well, Reuters reports that the US has followed through with its threat, and halted delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to the Nato ally, "marking the first concrete U.S. step to block delivery of the jet to the NATO ally in light of Ankara's planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system."
According to the Reuters sources, U.S. officials told their Turkish counterparts they will not receive further shipments of F-35 related equipment needed to prepare for the arrival of the stealthy jet. The sources also said the next shipment of training equipment, and all subsequent shipments of F-35 related material, have been canceled.
https://zh-prod-1cc738ca-7d3b-4a72-b792-20bd8d8fa069.storage.googleapis.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/f-35%20teaser.jpg
In March, a Pentagon official said that the United States had a number of items it could withhold in order to send Turkey a signal that the United States was serious about Ankara dropping its ambition to own the S-400: the F-35 was one of them.
Predictably, the U.S. decision on the F-35s will likely complicate Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's planned visit to Washington this week for a NATO summit.
In parallel, Washington is also exploring whether it can remove Turkey from production of the F-35. Turkey makes parts of the fuselage, landing gear and cockpit displays. Sources familiar with the F-35's intricate worldwide production process and U.S. thinking on the issue last week said Turkey's role can be replaced.
The United States and other NATO allies that own F-35s fear the radar on the Russian S-400 missile system will learn how to spot and track the jet, making it less able to evade Russian weapons in the future.
In an attempt to persuade Erdogan to drop its plans to buy the S-400, the United States offered the pricier American-made Patriot anti-missile system in a discounted deal that expired at the end of March. And while Turkey had shown interest in the Patriot system, it would not do so at the expense of abandoning the S-400 and extending Russia's strategic ties with Turkey.
Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in March said that despite the escalating diplomatic scandal, Turkish pilots were continuing their training at an air base in Arizona on the F-35, each of which costs $90 million, and that Ankara was expecting the aircraft to arrive in Turkey in November.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-04-01/us-halts-f-35-shipment-turkey-rift-over-russian-s-400-missile-system