US assured no change in Turkey's strategic orientation amid S-400 delivery
Turkey has assured the US that its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system does not in any way mean a change of the country's "strategic orientation".
The remarks were made by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in a Friday phone conversation with acting US Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
The phone call came a few hours after Turkey received the first delivery of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system despite US pressure and threat of sanctions.
Akar told his US counterpart that the acquisition of the Russian system was "a necessity, not a preference".
He also noted that Ankara was still assessing the bid to acquire US Patriot air defense systems. "Evaluations on the proposal of Patriot [defense system] are still going on."
Akar stressed that a deterioration of bilateral relations between Ankara and Washington would not serve the interests of either country or NATO.
The acquisition is set to escalate tensions between Turkey and the United States, which has warned of sanctions over the deal.
Washington says the S-400s could compromise its Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets, an aircraft Turkey is helping to build and planning to buy.
The Trump administration had threatened to expel Turkey and Turkish firms from the advanced F-35 fighter jet project over concerns that the Russian system could be used by Russia to gain sensitive data used on the jet.
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In the Friday phone call, Akar stressed that Turkey's stance on F-35 fighter jets did not change and the country fulfilled all of its obligations so far.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey will seek compensation if it is omitted from the F-35 program. He has said excluding Turkey from the F-35 program would be “robbery” since Ankara has already invested money in it.
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