Turkey needs S-400s, Turkish Bar Association head says

ANKARA

Purchasing the Russian-made S-400 air defense missile systems is not a luxury for Turkey, but a need, according to Metin Feyzioğlu, the head of the Turkish Bar Association.

“Turkey needs to strengthen its air defense. It has gradual objectives. Turkey’s 2021 objective is to actualize Siper [a domestic long-range missile system]. [Some circles] do not want Turkey to own an air defense system,” said Feyzioğlu on June 22 on a discussion program where he was a moderator.

“[Purchasing] the S-400 air defense systems is no longer a matter of preference. It has become a problem of sovereignty to protect the safety of life of 82 million [citizens],” he said.

Feyzioğlu also stressed that Turkey will not distance itself from NATO.

Meanwhile, Nejat Eslen, a retired brigadier, underlined the necessity of updating Turkey’s security strategy with respect to regional developments.

“We are surrounded by a ring of fire. We need to evaluate these threats while developing our security strategy,” he said on the same program.

“NATO countries want us to split but we should stay in NATO. We should use it because great dangers await us. We need a strong domestic front and a strong army,” Eslen added.

Another retired military officer, Major General Ali Deniz Kutluk also voiced support for Turkey’s purchase of S-400 systems, saying it is the “right choice.”

“The S-400 is an accurate missile system,” he said, also putting emphasis on the significance of Turkey in the NATO.

“If U.S. is our ally, then who is our enemy?” Hasan Ünal, an expert on political science questioned.

“There exists a full-on U.S. problem. According to my analysis, the S-400s are not a problem between the U.S. and Turkey, it is a result from a ball of problems. We are truly experiencing a confidence crisis,” Ünal said on the program, stressing Turkey’s need to reconsider its relations with regional states.

U.S. officials advised Turkey to buy the U.S. Patriot missile system rather than the S-400 system, even threatened with sanctions, arguing that the Russian-made system would be incompatible with NATO systems and expose the F-35 to possible Russian subterfuge.