Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on 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 defence systems.
Erdoğan's remarks came a day after Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford labelled media reports about Turkey purchasing the S-400 system from Russia as "incorrect", saying: "That would be a concern, were they to do that, but they have not done that."
"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," Erdoğan told reporters at Ankara Esenboga airport.
He added that negotiations on the missile system had been "largely" completed.
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.
