Erdogan Plays Down US Concerns over Turkey's Talks with Russia on S-400
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday he saw no reason for the United States' concerns from in connection with the Ankara-Moscow talks on the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems.
On Sunday, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford said that Turkey's possible purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia could be a cause for concern in Washington.
"Why should this be a concern? Each country should take certain measures to ensure its security. Which side can ensure these measures, there the steps are taken. How many times have we talked with America, but it did not work out, so like it or not, we began to make plans about the S-400. Our interested departments are negotiating, and this step will be taken," Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara, Sputnik reported.
The S-400 Triumph is Russia's next-generation mobile surface-to-air missile system carrying three different types of missiles capable of destroying aerial targets at a short-to-extremely-long range. It integrates multifunctional radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and a command and control center.
On July 18, the head of Russia's Rostec state corporation Sergei Chemezov said technical issues of the contract for the supply of the S-400 systems to Turkey had been resolved, with only administrative ones remaining.
As of now, Russia has concluded a contract for the delivery of the S-400 systems with China alone. Negotiations are also being conducted with India.