Ankara Slaps Pence with Counter-Ultimatum: Choose Between Turkey and Terrorists

By Staff, Agencies

Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay said his US counterpart must choose between an alliance with a loyal NATO partner or siding with terrorists, after Mike Pence issued an ultimatum for Ankara to pick its F-35 jets over Russian S-400 systems.

“The United States must choose. Does it want to remain Turkey’s ally or risk our friendship by joining forces with terrorists to undermine its NATO ally’s defense against its enemies?” Oktay tweeted, in response to Mike Pence.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US second-in-command demanded that Ankara “choose” whether it wants to remain a “critical” NATO partner or jeopardize its alliance membership by “reckless decisions” such as the purchase the Russian S-400 air defense systems.

The Twitter battle between the two top politicians erupted two days after the Pentagon stopped shipping equipment related to the F-35 fighter jet to Turkey.

Turkey, which has been a vital partner in the F-35 program, once again reminded the US on Wednesday that its S-400 purchase was a “done deal.”

“[S-400s] will not be integrated into the NATO system,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday, advocating the setting up of a multi-party technical group that would ensure the air defense system “will not be a threat” to either the F-35 or other NATO systems.