“We condemn and reject the decision to impose unilateral sanctions against Turkey as announced today by the U.S. in the context of Turkey’s acquisition of S-400 air defense systems,” the Ministry said.

“The conditions which compelled Turkey to acquire S-400 systems are well known. President Trump himself has admitted on many instances that Turkey’s acquisition was justified.”

The Ministry underlined that U.S. allegations that S-400 systems will jeopardize NATO systems are devoid of any technical merit.

The Ministry went on to say: “Moreover, Turkey has repeatedly proposed to address this issue in an objective, realistic and politically unbiased manner through a working group with the participation of NATO.”

“Therefore, the U.S. recourse to unilateral sanctions, by refusing our proposal to solve this matter through dialogue and diplomacy as befitting two allies, is completely senseless,” the Ministry emphasized, adding that Turkey will take the necessary steps against this decision, which will negatively affect our relations and will retaliate in a manner and timing it deems appropriate.

“Turkey will never refrain from taking the necessary measures to safeguard its national security,” the Ministry noted.

The Ministry concluded as follows: “With this understanding, we urge the U.S. to reconsider this unfair decision as announced today and to rectify this grave mistake as soon as possible, while emphasizing once again that Turkey stands ready to address this issue through dialogue and diplomacy in conformity with the spirit of alliance.”

Earlier Monday, the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition of a Russian missile system.

Turkey made a deal reportedly worth $2.5 billion with Russia for the S-400 mobile surface-to-air missile system in 2017.

The United States claims that the S-400 system to pose a risk to the NATO alliance as well as the F-35, America’s most expensive weapons platform. (ILKHA)