The United States urged Turkey to choose between NATO and the "insane" purchase of weapons from Russia

The Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, urged on Wednesday the Turkish government to choose between NATO or the "foolish" decision to go ahead with the purchase of Russia's S-400 missile defense system, a pride of the Russian weapon industry.

"Turkey must choose, Do you want to remain a fundamental part of the most successful military alliance in the history of the world or do you want to jeopardize the safety of this collaboration by making decisions that could harm the alliance? ?"said Pence in a speech at the NATO meeting in Washington.

The harsh words of the US Vice President responded to the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavusoglu, who, a short time ago, had badured that he would not accept the purchase of this Russian weaponry and that his government had no reason to choose between Russia and Russia. his other allies.

"We have made it clear that we will not stand idly by while our NATO allies buy weapons from our enemies, weapons that threaten the cohesion of the alliance, "said Pence.

In this respect, he considered "a big threat" the purchase of the S-400, an agreement between Ankara and Russia valued at $ 2,500 million.

"Turkey's $ 2.5 billion purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system is a great threat to NATO and for the strength of this covenant. The fact that Turkey is pursuing its plans, even after the United States has offered the Patriot air defense system, is very worrying. ", he said.

The US government approved in December the sale to Turkey of its $ 3,500 million Patriot missile system, which is yet to receive congressional approval. EThe Turkish government has announced its intention to use both systems, the Russian S-400 and the American Patriot; which generated a lot of anger in Washington.

This week, the Pentagon suspended the delivery of F-35 fighters to the Turkish Armed Forces and threatened to permanently expel Turkey from this program arms sales if it does not cancel the purchase of the Russian missile defense system, an agreement signed by Ankara and Moscow in September 2018.

The United States is concerned that Turkey is using these F-35 fighters in the vicinity of the S-400 missile system as this could result in information transfer.United States Ambbadador to the Alliance, Kay Bailey Hutchison, told reporters on Tuesday that NATO secrets could be endangered.