Erdogan: Turkey will not cancel S-400 deal with Russia despite US pressure
President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced that Turkey will proceed with the purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, despite the United States pressure, reports the Hurriyet Daily News.
"We have concluded our deal with Russia on the S-400. Thus, there can be no question of its cancellation. Everything has been decided," said Erdogan said.
At the same time, he noted that Turkey remains open for the purchase of the U.S Patriot system, but only under certain conditions.
"Co-production, credit and early delivery are the criteria we consider of great importance," said the Turkish leader.
Earlier, at the trilateral summit on Syria in Sochi, Erdogan complained to Putin that Washington exerted strong pressure on Ankara because of the $ 2.5 billion purchase contract for S-400.
According to the Turkish newspaper, the United States has long urged Turkey to cancel the deal with Russia, since the deployment of Russian missile systems could endanger the safety of F-35 aircraft.
Turkey, in turn, declares that it will use the S-400 as an autonomous air defense system and will develop its own software so that it does not have a negative impact on NATO military equipment.
In response to the Erdogan’s statements, the U.S. Vice President, Michael Pence, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, noted that the United States would not be able to protect allied countries that acquire weapons from the potential adversaries.
"We will not be able to defend the West if our allies depend on arms purchases in the East," he said.