Ankara’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system is a done deal, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday, despite Washington’s efforts to persuade Turkey to buy the US Patriot system instead, Reuters reported.
US and NATO officials have warned Ankara that the Russian system cannot be integrated into the NATO air and missile defense system and that purchasing the S-400 system would end the process for Patriots, jeopardize Turkey’s purchase of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets and possibly result in US sanctions.
Claiming that Turkey has never gone back on its promise, Çavuşoğlu said statements coming from third parties are not their concern.