Turkey Denies Moving Russian-made S-400 Air Defense Systems To US Military Bases

Illustration of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)

JAKARTA - Turkey's Defense Ministry has denied reports that it is moving Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to Incirlik Air Base where US troops are located, Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday, citing a source in the Defense Ministry.

Turkish media reported earlier this week that the military had moved its missile defense system, bought from Russia to Washington's dismay, around a strategic air base in the country's south.

"These statements are completely untrue," the source was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency on November 4.

Meanwhile, a Turkish military official who spoke to the Daily Sabah late Wednesday denied reports by Sky News Arabia that the S-400 missile defense system was being transferred to Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey.

Earlier, Sky News Arabia claimed "Turkey brought S-400 batteries to the Incirlik base used by United States and NATO forces" in a tweet, citing a US Department of Defense official.

It is known that Turkey's initial purchase of the S-400 from Russia strained their relations with the United States. The move prompted Washington to remove Ankara from its new-generation F-35 Lightning II jet program. The US has also threatened to impose new sanctions if Turkey buys more key weapons systems from Moscow.

Washington believes the system could be used by Russia to covertly obtain classified details on Lockheed Martin F-35 jets, saying the S-400 is not compatible with NATO systems.

On the other hand, Turkey insists the S-400 will not be integrated into NATO systems and will not pose a threat to the alliance.

To note, earlier talks about Turkey's purchase of US-made Patriot missiles fell through due to a number of issues, ranging from the S-400 to Ankara's dissatisfaction with Washington's terms. Turkey said it would only agree to the offer if it included technology transfer and joint production terms.

The United States imposed sanctions on Turkey in 2020, due to its purchase under a 2017 law aimed at pushing back Russia's influence. The move is the first time the law, known as the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), has been used to punish a US ally.

Incirlik Air Base is part of the NATO missile defense system in Europe where up to 50 tactical nuclear weapons are stored. In the context of disagreements with the United States over Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would close the Incirlik and Kurecik bases to the United States military, if sanctions were imposed.