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Turkey National Defense Ministry/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The Trump administration has yet to respond to Turkey’s decision to accept delivery of a Russian missile defense system that will cut Ankara out of the F-35 fighter program and could trigger economic sanctions.

On Friday morning, video showed Russian planes unloading parts of the S-400 missile defense system in Turkey. For months, U.S. officials have warned Turkey — a NATO ally — that the Russian system is incompatible with and provides a security risk to the F-35 program, and that Turkey would be removed from the program should they choose to purchase the S-400.

Turkey also faces possible U.S. sanctions over purchasing Russian defense equipment under a law Congress passed in 2017 to force President Donald Trump’s hand to be tougher on Moscow — sanctions that Trump would not commit to imposing two weeks ago when meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Pentagon announced on Friday morning that it would hold an on-camera briefing to discuss its response, but that briefing was delayed until the Pentagon told reporters it had been “postponed indefinitely.”

Prior to his meeting with Uzbekistan’s defense minister, Acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Friday the department was aware of Turkey taking the delivery of the missile defense system.

“Our position regarding the F-35 has not changed,” he said. “I will speak with my Turkish counterpart Minister Akar this afternoon. So there will be more to follow after this conversation.”

A U.S. defense official said that conversation between Esper and Akar lasted 30 minutes, with the S-400 delivery one of several topics of discussion. The Pentagon will not provide a readout of the call, but a Turkish readout reportedly said Akar called for a U.S. delegation to be urgently sent to Ankara next week to continue dialogue.

Top Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committee released a joint statement Friday afternoon, urging Trump to “fully implement sanctions as required by law” against Turkey for accepting the S-400. They also urged the Pentagon “to proceed with the termination of Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program.”

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