Turkey 'ensures NATO's security with its S-400 systems'
Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov has said that Turkey's purchase of S-400 missile defense systems doesn't threaten NATO's security, but ensures it on the contrary. "So I see no problem here," he said.
Duvar English
Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems in no way undermines the security of other NATO states, the CEO of the Rostec corporation, Sergei Chemezov, said in an interview with the RT channel.
"I can say that S-400 is first and foremost a defensive weapon, and it cannot be used during an offensive," Chemezov said.
"So I cannot imagine how it can affect the security of other NATO states. On the contrary, the Turkish side ensures the security of NATO members. So I see no problem here," he added.
He also noted that under the deal with Turkey on the delivery of S-400s, partial localization of its components used in the missile defense system is planned. However, the Rostec CEO noted that the handover of technology to a third country cannot be used against Russia.
"We do not carry out 100% localization. Even if we wanted to, it is unlikely that Turkey could have organized the production of such state-of-the-art equipment domestically. There needs to be a corresponding school set up for that. So I see no need for concern," Chemezov said.
Russia's defense cooperation with NATO member state Turkey has expanded in recent years despite heightened pressure from the United States. Moscow and Ankara signed a deal on the delivery of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems in 2017. Turkey was the first NATO state to purchase those systems from Russia.
The purchase came at a heavy price for Turkey, which has been expelled from the U.S.-sponsored F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
An official from the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation this week said that Moscow is ready to hold talks with Turkey on supplying warplanes, mainly Su-35 or Su-57.