Turkey says would retaliate against U.S. sanctions over Russian S-400s
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey will take reciprocal steps if the United States imposes sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400 defenses, the Turkish foreign minister said on Friday, marking the latest step toward a standoff between the NATO allies.
If the United States takes any negative actions towards us, we will also take reciprocal steps, Mevlut Cavusoglu, the minister, said when asked about possible U.S. sanctions in an interview broadcast on Turkish TV.
Ankara and Washington have sparred publicly for months over Turkeys purchase of the S-400 missile systems, expected to be delivered as early as next month. Washington has said that would trigger U.S. sanctions and sent a letter warning that Ankara would be pulled out of the F-35 jet program.
The Turkish lira weakened to as far as 5.93 against U.S. dollar after the comment, to its weakest level in two weeks.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-usa-sanctions/turkey-says-would-retaliate-against-u-s-sanctions-over-russian-s-400s-idUSKCN1TF0PQ?il=0