Türkiye: US Patriot not as attractive as Russian S-400

"We have completed the deal to buy the S-400 air defense system. Türkiye had proposed to buy the Patriot system from the US, but Washington did not offer us attractive terms. That is why the S-400 contract was made, the first set is expected to be delivered in July," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday.

The Turkish leader did not reveal the terms offered by Russia and the US, but said Washington's response to the S-400 contract was "very wrong and Ankara does not like this." President Erdogan affirmed that Türkiye will still receive the delivery of F-35 stealth fighters under the agreement with the US.

US and Turkish officials have recently engaged in a war of words over Ankara's S-400 purchase contract.

The US believes that the S-400 is incompatible with NATO's air defense system and is also a threat to the F-35 fighter jet. US officials are concerned that Türkiye's purchase of both the F-35 and the S-400 could give Russia access to sophisticated technology on the F-35 line to find ways to counter them. The Pentagon announced on April 1 that it would stop delivering spare parts and manuals for the F-35 to Türkiye.

Meanwhile, Ankara has repeatedly asserted its right to choose its arms supplier, arguing that the purchase of the S-400 is a matter of survival for its defense.