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Barrack: Türkiye-US Defense Ties 'Essential' Despite S-400 Snag
(MENAFN) Untangling the legal and regulatory knots around Türkiye's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile defense system won't happen overnight, US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack said Wednesday, even as he insisted defense ties between the two NATO allies remain vital.
Speaking to reporters on the margins of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Barrack said Ankara and Washington are still working through conditions set by the US Congress tied to the S-400 dispute.
"The US Congress is doing a great job. They have so many constituencies that they have to respect," Barrack said when asked about developments on the S-400 and F-35 programs.
He noted the standoff isn't governed by a single law — both the Countering America's
Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) come into play — and said the two governments are pressing forward on meeting Congress's requirements, which he called central to the process.
As a sign of deepening economic ties, Barrack pointed to a recently announced $100 million deal involving Boeing commercial aircraft.
"Again, it takes time, but the defense cooperation between Türkiye and the US is essential," he said.
"They're the second-largest NATO ally. We rely on them tremendously for all sorts of regional alliances," he added.
Trump-Erdogan bond 'never been better'
Pressed on whether informal talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump had moved the bilateral relationship forward, Barrack described it as stronger than ever.
"They've never been better," he said.
According to Barrack, the two leaders had already hashed out the major bilateral issues in meetings over the past year, including on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
"We've covered all of the issues. The relationship is continuing," he said, noting the leaders stay in frequent contact given regional tensions.
"So, there wasn't much new territory to cover. It's constant," he said. "The two leaders are very good with each other. They like each other, which really helps."
He added that the bulk of substantive issues are now managed at the ministerial and military level, "so, they're in good shape."
'They have a chemistry with each other'
Reflecting on informal exchanges between Trump and Erdogan at a dinner Tuesday, Barrack pointed to genuine personal rapport between the two leaders.
"Yeah, it's amazing. They have such an amazing respect for each other as leaders. But more than that, they have a chemistry with each other," he said.
Despite differing backgrounds, he said, the two connect easily.
"Even though there's this cultural divide, they're very much alike," he said.
Barrack also credited Türkiye's steadiness as a US partner through recent regional turbulence.
"Türkiye has been a great friend to America," said Barrack. "In these very difficult moments when things are tense, you find out who your friends are."
Speaking to reporters on the margins of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Barrack said Ankara and Washington are still working through conditions set by the US Congress tied to the S-400 dispute.
"The US Congress is doing a great job. They have so many constituencies that they have to respect," Barrack said when asked about developments on the S-400 and F-35 programs.
He noted the standoff isn't governed by a single law — both the Countering America's
Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) come into play — and said the two governments are pressing forward on meeting Congress's requirements, which he called central to the process.
As a sign of deepening economic ties, Barrack pointed to a recently announced $100 million deal involving Boeing commercial aircraft.
"Again, it takes time, but the defense cooperation between Türkiye and the US is essential," he said.
"They're the second-largest NATO ally. We rely on them tremendously for all sorts of regional alliances," he added.
Trump-Erdogan bond 'never been better'
Pressed on whether informal talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump had moved the bilateral relationship forward, Barrack described it as stronger than ever.
"They've never been better," he said.
According to Barrack, the two leaders had already hashed out the major bilateral issues in meetings over the past year, including on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
"We've covered all of the issues. The relationship is continuing," he said, noting the leaders stay in frequent contact given regional tensions.
"So, there wasn't much new territory to cover. It's constant," he said. "The two leaders are very good with each other. They like each other, which really helps."
He added that the bulk of substantive issues are now managed at the ministerial and military level, "so, they're in good shape."
'They have a chemistry with each other'
Reflecting on informal exchanges between Trump and Erdogan at a dinner Tuesday, Barrack pointed to genuine personal rapport between the two leaders.
"Yeah, it's amazing. They have such an amazing respect for each other as leaders. But more than that, they have a chemistry with each other," he said.
Despite differing backgrounds, he said, the two connect easily.
"Even though there's this cultural divide, they're very much alike," he said.
Barrack also credited Türkiye's steadiness as a US partner through recent regional turbulence.
"Türkiye has been a great friend to America," said Barrack. "In these very difficult moments when things are tense, you find out who your friends are."
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