VP Pence Issues Turkey Ultimatum: "Choose Between Remaining NATO Member Or Buying Russian S-4000

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: ZERO HEDGE

URL: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-04-03/pence-issues-turkey-ultimatum-choose-between-remaining-nato-member-or-buying


Two days after we reported that the US had halted delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey as part of the ongoing rift over Erdogan's plans to move forward with taking delivery of the advanced Russian S-4000 anti-air defense system, on Wednesday the US escalated the war of words with its NATO ally when Vice President Mike Pence threatened Turkey’s future role in the NATO alliance, warning it against "reckless decisions," like following through with the purchase of the Russian-made air defense system.

“Turkey must choose. Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our @NATO alliance?,” Pence tweeted on Wednesday, after making similar remarks at a NATO summit in Washington.

Despite repeated warnings from the US, Turkey has refused to drop its scheduled purchase the Russian weapons system, which is scheduled to be delivered in July. After the Pentagon halted deliveries of the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet and related equipment to Turkey and halted training of Turkish pilots, Ankara remained defiant with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu telling the NATO summit that the purchase was “a done deal.”

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[Restored]

I guess I don't understand why we care what they buy

[corbe]

   The USAF is worried that if Turkey has both the F35 and the S400 the Russians will improve the lethality of their missile system against the F35. 
   I thought Turkey had already backed out of the missile deal, a day or two ago.