Turkey is signaling that it could give ground on the Russian missiles it’s poised to deploy if the U.S. severs support for Kurdish forces Ankara views as a mortal threat.
The Turkish government is prepared to make concessions, such as agreeing to limited use of the Russian S-400 antiaircraft missiles, because it’s eager to secure the future supply of spare parts for its U.S.-made weapons systems and avoid damage to its economy, according to two Turkish officials familiar with relations between the countries.
Ankara is also keen to prevent Washington from further strengthening Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters that dominate the U.S.-backed force that quelled Islamic State in Syria, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss strategic issues.
The country’s banking stocks index rallied as much as 3.4% amid heightened hopes of a thaw with the U.S. Halkbank, facing U.S. criminal prosecution over alleged Iran sanctions violations, was up 2.1%.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar cited the installation of an earlier generation of Russian missiles for limited use in Greece as a possible model.
“We said we are open to negotiation,” Akar said in an interview with Hurriyet newspaper published on Tuesday. “There is no such thing as we will use it constantly. These systems are used according to the threat situation. We decide that.”
U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield told Turkish media last week that Washington’s policy of working with Syrian Kurdish forces has not changed and that Turkey would have to get rid of its S-400s if it wants related U.S. sanctions lifted.
Source : Bloomberg
