File image: Defense Industry President İsmail Demir gave a speech at the Eskisehir Chamber of Industry on 14 March 2019. The head of the country's Defense Industries Presidency Ismail Demir said on Tuesday: "The development of the domestic industry will continue, perhaps even faster. In a sense, this [sanctions] will be a flare and a warning."
The sanctions, under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act , avoided targeting Turkey's economy generally, focusing on its arms procurement and development body SSB, its chairman Demir, his deputy and two officials responsible for air defence systems.Values of alliance 'shaken' “We condemn this decision, which does not comply with the alliance, current military, or political realities,” Hulusi Akar told Anadolu Agency.Highlighting the air and missile threats that Turkey faces, he said the country is taking all measures to protect itself and its people.
In April 2017, when its protracted efforts to buy an air defence system from the US proved fruitless, Turkey signed a contract with Russia to acquire the S-400 shield.