Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
“The U.S. has to think about this very carefully,” he said.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan asserted that Washington would hold off on sanctions against Ankara over its purchase of Russian missiles, signaling a confident stance toward U.S. policy.
His remarks highlighted a complex web of personal diplomacy, strategic ambition, and growing defiance in Turkey’s relations with the West.
Confident in ties with Trump
Speaking to foreign media for the first time in years, Erdogan insisted that his personal relationship with then-US President Donald Trump would protect Turkey from economic punishment.
“I say this very openly and sincerely, our relations with Trump are at a place that I can call really good,” he told reporters. “America has a problem, we have very different relations with Trump, but our relations with people working under Trump is totally different.”
He added that any difficulties between the two countries were quickly handled directly: “In the event of any issues, we immediately work the phones. The US has to think about this very carefully. We will have sanctions of our own.”
Ankara has previously warned Washington that it would retaliate immediately if the US imposed any sanctions in response to the missile deal.
Summit diplomacy ahead
Erdogan and Trump were expected to meet at the upcoming G-20 summit, where the Turkish leader planned to press Washington to recognize Turkey’s strategic importance as a regional ally.
“We will of course say: ‘Do you find such sanctions against Turkey acceptable?’” Erdogan said. “I do believe he will say he does not. I will ask him to do what is necessary. It’s that simple, since we are friends, since we are strategic partners.”
His remarks underscored Ankara’s determination to defend its military independence while preserving its economic and political relationship with the United States.
The S-400 controversy
NATO-member Turkey’s decision to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system, rather than American-made Patriot missiles, dates back to 2017. Moscow is expected to deliver the systems imminently.
The United States has raised concerns that the S-400 could expose sensitive data about F-35 fighter jets to Russian intelligence and argued that the system is incompatible with NATO’s integrated defense network.
According to US defense official Ellen Lord, “We have bifurcated the S-400 and F-35 impact from (the) impact to the rest of our defence and commercial industry. It would be very, very significant for Turkey.”
Between Washington and Moscow
Turkey’s purchase of the Russian system is viewed by analysts as a diplomatic win for President Vladimir Putin and a signal of Ankara’s gradual pivot toward Moscow.
Despite tensions with US officials, Erdogan’s rapport with Trump had previously softened confrontations, but many in Washington remained wary.
Experts note that both leaders share a personalist political style, often favoring direct negotiation over bureaucratic process.
With Turkey straddling Europe and the Middle East, its position remains crucial to both the United States and Russia — a balance Erdogan appears determined to exploit to his advantage.
Sources: Reuters, BBC, AP
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation
