Turkey expects US to review its sanction decision: Defense minister

The Turkish defense minister on Dec. 22 said his country bought Russian missile defense system in line with national interests as Moscow responded positively and Turkey made its planning accordingly.

Hulusi Akar, speaking at Aksaz naval base in the Marmaris district of Turkey's western Mugla province, delivered remarks on Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) imposed by the U.S. and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as on Syria.

Akar said Turkey opted to buy the Russian S-400 system in a bid to ensure the national defense of the country and noted that the US sanctions were not befitting to relations of the two allies.

Russia responded positively to this issue, and Turkey made its military, economic, and technological planning in this regard.

Inspection and controls of the S-400 system are underway based on the activity plan set by the parties, Akar also noted.

The sanctions will have a negative impact on Turkey's activities with NATO and the US to some extent, he stressed, calling on the U.S. government to reassess the situation from both military and political points of view.

Turkey and its armed forces are not ordinary powers, Akar further noted, adding that no actor could do anything in the Middle East region while acting without, or against, the Turkish Armed Forces.

Eastern Mediterranean

Turkey seeks to resolve disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean, Aegean, and on the island of Cyprus through dialogue and good neighborly relations, according to the minister, who also added that Ankara was resolute to protect the rights of Turkish people.

Stressing that Turkey did not want to violate the rights of any other country, he said the Athens...