US: Senators call for sanctions against Turkey for activating S-400s

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Two US senators are calling for sanctions against Turkey after reports that Ankara had activated S-400 radar to detect US-made Greek F-16s.

The S-400 radar was reportedly activated as the Greek fighters returned from the joint military exercise "Eunomia" of Greece - France - Italy and Cyprus last August, according to the American news site The Hill. Members of Congress are urging the White House to impose sanctions on Turkey since 2017, when it agreed with Russia to supply the S-400s, the first batch of which it received last year.

Both senators, Democrat Chris Van Hollen and Republican James Langford , reiterated the call following reports that Turkey was preparing to activate Russia's anti-aircraft system next week."We are writing to you about public reports that Turkey has activated the radars of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system in order to detect US-made F-16 fighter jets returning from the Eunomia exercise conducted by France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus in late August in response to Turkey's unwarranted attack on the Eastern Mediterranean. "Given this information, we call on you again to impose sanctions on Turkey as required by law," they wrote in a letter to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The United States has expelled Turkey from the F-35 co-production program, but the Trump administration has not imposed any other sanctions, as provided by the CAATSA, for cooperation with the Russian defense industry. in that case. Citing a Bloomberg source, the official said on Tuesday that Turkey planned to test the S-400 next week, and videos posted on social media showed trucks carrying the system. "Reports of this activation make it clear that Turkey does not intend to reverse the course," the two senators said. "Furthermore, "The slow pace at which the Ministry of Defense is moving to oust Turkey from the F-35 supply chain has undoubtedly strengthened President Erdogan." Anyway theThe State Department again  warned Ankara yesterday that sanctions on the S-400 remain on the table.