国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Ankara in search of way out of S-400 deal with Moscow: analysts_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Ankara in search of way out of S-400 deal with Moscow: analysts

Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak was received by Trump at the White House last Monday, which was described by media reports as a surprise meeting.

According to press reports, Turkey is hoping for Trump to intervene to lighten any sanctions against Ankara over the S-400 issue.

Ankara's pledge that the S-400 batteries would not be interconnected to the NATO facilities in Turkey has failed to convince Washington.

The United States has offered to provide its Patriot missiles if Turkey drops the S-400 deal, but the offer appeals less to Ankara as it does not essentially include any transfer of technology.

Neither of the analysts thinks Azerbaijan or Qatar is a practicable option for Turkish S-400s given that the U.S. has its largest military base in Qatar with many aircraft and that Azerbaijan is within Moscow's sphere of influence.

"Why should these countries risk attracting Washington's anger?" Ozcan asked, noting Moscow may not be willing to share the technical information it would necessarily pass on to Ankara about the S-400 system with either Azerbaijan or Qatar.

Local media reports said in recent months that Ankara was considering passing the S-400s to countries such as India and Venezuela.

Ahmet Takan, a columnist with the Yenicag daily, claimed in mid-March that Ankara had given Moscow the message that it may give up the S-400s.

Turkey took up the S-400 issue with India which is also planning to get the same system from Russia, Takan wrote, claiming a deal could be reached if New Delhi would agree to pay Ankara the down payment given to Moscow for the missiles. The reports that Ankara may resell the missiles to a third country were denied by Cavusoglu at the end of last month.