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Deputy President Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences Colonel Konstantin Sivkov said that the "stubbornness" of the U.S. Congress is sending Turkey into the arms of Russia. "Unfortunately – or rather, fortunately – the American political leadership lacks the brains to take the right decisions," he said. Speaking on the Russia Today Arabic channel on June 11, Colonel Sivkov said that if Turkey decides to buy the S-400 system, nobody would ask the U.S. for permission. "Would they fight Turkey?" he asked, adding that "in such a case, Russia will help Turkey." Colonel Sivkov further said that the Russian Hmeimim airbase, along with the S-400 systems, would remain in Syria.
Host: "If I understand correctly, Turkey is keeping up its efforts to obtain the [S-400 missile] system. In other words, it is expected that the Russian aerospace missile system will cover what you called [NATO's] 'Southern Flank.' If we assume that Qatar would also like [to obtain the S-400] – although this is only a conjecture – then this would mean that this Russian system would cover the skies of the Middle East. Would the Americans allow this to happen?"
Konstantin Sivkov: "Who would ask the United States, if Turkey decides to buy this system? Would they fight Turkey? In such a case, Russia will help Turkey. Unfortunately – or rather, fortunately – the American political leadership lacks the brains to take the right decisions. Instead of giving Turkey what can win it over, they are employing a policy of sticks only, and no carrots. When Turkey decided to buy the Triumf [S-400] system from Russia, the U.S. refused to give [Turkey] any type of American weapon. As a result, when Turkey wanted the buy F-35 fighters from the U.S., the U.S. Congress opposed this. Turkey declared that if the U.S. does not allow it to buy these planes, it would buy its planes from Russia. Thus, the military technological cooperation between Russia and Turkey will increase, thanks to the stubbornness of the United States. Therefore, I would like to thank the U.S. Congress."
[…]
Host: "Will Syria get the S-400 system, when the Russian forces withdraw from Syria? We have less than 10 seconds left."
Konstantin Sivkov: "The S-400 system will stay in Syria, because the Russian air base at Hmeimim will stay in Syria."
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