Turkey needs to find an alternative to the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system acquired from Russia, since it cannot be integrated into a single NATO air defense system. Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated this.
Before the start of a two-day meeting of NATO heads of defense, held in videoconference mode, Stoltenberg said, that NATO is in favor of finding alternative options for Turkey instead of the S-400 air defense system and, that he personally “concerned about Turkey's decision to purchase the S-400 and has repeatedly raised this issue during meetings in Ankara”.
This system cannot be integrated into a single NATO air defense system. I support efforts to find alternatives
– NATO Secretary General said, adding, that if, if Ankara does not find an alternative to the S-400, US may impose sanctions against it.
According to Stoltenberg, Turkey and the United States are currently discussing the deployment of Patriot systems with the help of the alliance, Besides, Ankara also does not rule out the deployment of a Franco-Italian air defense system, negotiations are underway.
At the same time, Stoltenberg admitted, that countries themselves determine, what weapons should they acquire, but at the same time they need “take into account the compatibility of these weapons within NATO”.
Earlier, the United States accused Turkey of violating obligations as an ally of the United States and a NATO member due to the tests of the S-400 air defense system.
