Erdogan is one step away from pressing the button to deactivate the Russian S-400 missiles in order to pave the way for receiving the gifts promised to him by Donald Trump.
The Turkish Cabinet met today for the first time since the NATO summit in Ankara. On the agenda were the F-35s and steps to divest from the S-400s, though no official decision was announced regarding the future of the Russian missiles, which Ankara appears willing to divest itself of.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Washington and Ankara are in open communication, with a report in the newspaper Milliyet revealing information regarding the fighter jet engines that Erdogan is requesting from Trump. However, while they were talking about 80 engines for 40 KAAAN aircraft, the Turkish newspaper ultimately mentions 20 aircraft and 40 engines.
They’re refreshing his memory
Turkish media are reminding the Turkish President of the stance he took a few years ago—specifically in 2019—when he was equipping the Turkish arsenal with Russian systems.
“On March 6, 2019, President Erdoğan said, ‘We’re done with the S-400s. We’re moving forward. We can never go back. Such immorality does not suit us.”
A resolute Erdogan who seemed unconcerned about the impending U.S. sanctions.
“The issue of the S-400s is directly related to our sovereign rights. And we won’t back down an inch on this,” he says.
“A Twist” in the UAE
Middle East Eye sheds new light on the future of the S-400 missiles, revealing that secret negotiations regarding their sale to the United Arab Emirates have been underway for months, with Moscow appearing, in principle, to be in favor. The United Arab Emirates would have to accept all the obligations arising from the contract signed between Ankara and Moscow.
Watch Evangelos Agapios’s report:
