DefenceTalkThe U.S. State Department said it had warned Turkey that if it goes ahead with the purchase of a Russian air defense system. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said March 5 that Washington might reconsider giving Turkey access to the advanced F-35 fighter jet program if it buys the Russian S-400 system. “We’ve clearly warned […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-warns-turkey-again-over-purchase-of-russian-air-defense-system-72196/

DefenceTalkTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday it was “out of the question” to reconsider a controversial deal to buy a top-line Russian anti-missile system and he might even look at other purchases. The United States, a long-standing NATO ally and supplier of much of Turkey’s military equipment, has pressed Ankara to drop the S-400 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/erdogan-determined-to-go-ahead-with-russian-missile-deal-72184/

DefenceTalkTurkey is ready to consider US proposal on deliveries of Patriot air defense systems, but refuses to abandon the S-400 deal with Russia as a potential precondition for the Ankara-Washington agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday. “Turkey may buy Patriot systems in the future. But it will be impossible if abandoning S-400 will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-refuses-to-cancel-s-400-purchase-as-precondition-for-us-patriot-deal-72037/

DefenceTalkTroops from Turkey and the United States launched joint patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Thursday, the Turkish defence minister said, part of a bid to ease tensions between the NATO allies. “The joint patrol in Manbij between Turkish armed forces and the US began today at 3.53pm (1253 GMT),” Defence Minister […]https://www.defencetalk.com/joint-turkey-us-patrols-begin-in-syrias-manbij-71926/

DefenceTalkRussia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, says it will begin delivering its advanced S-400 anti-missile systems to Turkey in 2019. Rosoboronexport also said on August 21 that it would stop conducting its sales to foreign customers in U.S. dollars, allowing purchases in local currencies. The announcement comes as Turkey faces a crisis over its weakening lira […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-will-start-delivering-s-400-defense-system-to-turkey-in-2019-71820/

DefenceTalkTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday spoke by phone with Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, passing on his best wishes after what Caracas said was a drone “assassination” bid backed by Colombia. Erdogan, a close ally of Maduro, also wished well the soldiers wounded in the weekend incident, Turkish presidential sources said, without giving further […]https://www.defencetalk.com/erdogan-backs-ally-maduro-after-assassination-bid-71768/

DefenceTalkTurkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday warned the US against blocking planned weapons sales to his country, insisting that Ankara would respond to such an action with reprisals. Cavusoglu’s comments came in reaction to the release of the annual defense policy bill Friday by the US House of Representatives. The $717 billion (€598.62 billion) […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-threatens-retaliation-against-us-if-washington-halts-weapons-sales-71657/

DefenceTalkRussian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday said he had agreed with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to speed up the delivery of S-400 air defence missile systems to Ankara, a purchase that has alarmed Turkey’s NATO partners. “We took the decision to speed up the timetable for the delivery of these highly effective Russian systems,” Putin […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-turkey-agree-to-speed-up-delivery-of-s-400s-putin-71624/

DefenceTalkFresh regime air strikes and heavy clashes shook rebel-held Eastern Ghouta on Sunday (Feb 25) despite a UN demand for a ceasefire to end one of the most ferocious assaults of Syria’s civil war. After days of diplomatic wrangling, the Security Council on Saturday adopted a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria “without […]https://www.defencetalk.com/strikes-clashes-rock-syrias-ghouta-despite-ceasefire-call-71505/

DefenceTalkEnabled by accelerated successes following the liberation of Mosul, the coalition will shift its focus in Iraq from enabling combat operations to sustaining military gains against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials announced yesterday. “The coalition will tailor our forces in consultation with our Iraqi partners […]https://www.defencetalk.com/coalition-forces-announce-shift-as-campaign-against-isis-progresses-in-iraq-syria-71429/