Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said on Tuesday that Ankara’s purchase of S-400 defence missile system from Russia is a done deal, despite the United States’ efforts to persuade Ankara to buy the American Patriot system instead.
According to Reuters news reports, NATO officials and the US have warned Turkey that the Russian missile system can’t be integrated into NATO air and missile defence system and also that its purchase would jeopardize Ankara’s purchase of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighters jet and could possibly result in the US sanctions.
Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has that Turkey will not step back from its deal to purchase S-400 missile system from Russia even after an informal deadline which the United States had settled up for Ankara to respond to the rival US offer.
NATO member Turkey has repeatedly said that it is committed to purchasing the Russian defence missile system, despite the warning from US-led alliance that the missile system cannot be integrated into the NATO air defence system.
The US had asked Turkey to provide at least an informal respond over whether it would go ahead with Russian deal by February 15. However, still, it is unclear whether Turkey had responded to the US offer.