Wednesday, 2 February 2022 (YJC)_ The Turkish president said that the purchase of the Russian S-400 is an internal matter and has nothing to do with NATO.
At a time when threats and pressure from the United States and its NATO allies on Turkey to buy the Russian S-400 system continue, Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the purchase of this air defense system is an internal Turkish issue.
According to Sputnik, there is an option for another S-400 system in the Ankara-Moscow agreement. In August 2021, the President of Turkey said that Ankara had no doubts about buying the second S-400 series from Russia.
Russia and Turkey signed an agreement in 2017 to supply four S-400 air defense systems worth $ 2.5 billion, which were delivered to Turkey in the summer and fall of 2019.
During a speech to a group of young people in the Turkish city of Trabzon, Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated the Turkish government's stance on the purchase of Russia's S-400 defense system, as well as criticizing NATO member states over the deal.
Emphasizing the importance of Turkey's relations with Russia and the role of this agreement, the Turkish President said:
Ankara's agreement to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems is an important step in developing Turkish-Russian cooperation. Russian systems are very important.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan added:
Delivery (Russian S-400 air defense system to Turkey) is a matter for Turkey. This is our decision. We made this decision, we reached an agreement with Russia. From NATO's point of view, this step has no negative meaning.
Turkey's agreement as a NATO member with Russia to buy the S-400 has sparked tensions between Washington and some other members of the coalition with Ankara, who have claimed that using the system would leak NATO classified information. The United States canceled the sale of the F-35 to Turkey in 2019 in protest.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks about Turkey's determination to buy the Russian S-400 come as senior Ankara and Moscow officials have repeatedly denied claims by Washington and other NATO members that they threaten to use the defense system.
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