Washington stepped up its pressure over Turkish plans to buy S-400 missiles from Russia by threatening sanctions on Turkish firms. Chief arms buyer Ellen Lord said that the only businesses that would be excepted are those currently building parts for American F-35 fighter jets. However, even the current manufacturing would move back to the US under proposed Pentagon plans.
It comes after foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu issued a firm response to similar Washington threats made last week.
Though Lord stressed that the US viewed Turkey as a crucial NATO ally, there was no mincing of words as she outlined the Trump administration's plans to squeeze Turkey economically.
She said: “We have bifurcated the S-400 and F-35 impact from (the) impact to the rest of our defence and commercial industry.
Trump and Erdogan have come to blows in the past over Russia (Image: GETTY)
Russian S-400 missiles are due to arrive in Turkey next month (Image: GETTY)
“Everything outside of the F-35 from a defence perspective, we have reviewed within the department and that would be subject to any CAATSA sanctions.
“It would be very, very significant for Turkey.”
In a thinly veiled threat, Lord added that though they wish to continue working with Turkey, US
