From S-400s to SAMP/T: Turkey’s defense pivot gathers pace after NATO summit
Turkey is seeking to turn the diplomatic momentum from the Ankara NATO summit into a broad defense realignment spanning US sanctions relief and fighter technology, European air defenses and deeper military cooperation with the UK.
ANKARA — Turkey emerged from this week's NATO summit with a new defense partnership with the United Kingdom and fresh momentum on several other long-running defense priorities, including lifting US sanctions over its Russian-made S-400 system, acquiring US-made jet engines and pursuing the European-made SAMP/T air defense system.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted the leaders of NATO’s 31 other member states, including US President Donald Trump, on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Trump became the first US president to make an official visit to Turkey for the summit since former President Barack Obama in 2015.
In a break with standard protocol, Erdogan personally welcomed Trump at Ankara Airport before receiving him with an official ceremony at the presidential complex.
