Turkish president calls S-400 deal most important in country's history
Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan called the contract to buy the Russian S-400 air defense missile system the most important in the country's history.
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| Russian President Putin and Turkish President. |
“Because it is not only market logic. This cooperation, the transition to joint production and in the future we can talk to Russia about the S-500. We are not thinking only about today, we have to think further,” the Turkish head of state said on the Haberturk TV channel.
Erdogan noted that with the help of the S-400, Ankara is not preparing for military actions, but is only trying to ensure national security.
Mr Erdogan added that NATO should be happy because after Türkiye bought the S-400, a NATO alliance member itself became stronger.
“The purchase of the S-400 air defense system will affect NATO. The alliance should be happy about it ... Türkiye, having received the S-400, will become stronger in its security sphere. This will also strengthen the alliance,” the Turkish leader said.
Türkiye's purchase of Russia's latest air defense systems, the S-400, has caused an international scandal between Türkiye and the United States: Washington demanded that the deal be abandoned and in return purchased the American Patriot complex.
