Desperate To Buy Russian S-400 Missiles, Turkey Is Ready For Dialogue With The United States

S-400 Triumf missile defense system. (Source: wikimedia commons)

JAKARTA - Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said canceling the purchase of Russia's S-400 Triumf missile defense system could cause problems for relations between the two countries.

But on the other hand, he also hopes that Turkey can continue to dialogue with the United States regarding the dispute related to the purchase of the missile which was first introduced in 2007.

"It is a very problematic situation to return from where we came. We invite the United States to distance itself from threatening language, such as sanctions," he said in Turkey.

Akar also said he was in talks with Russia to get a second delivery of the S-400 missile defense system.

The sanctions Akar meant were sanctions imposed by Washington on the head of Turkey's Defense Industry Directorate (SSB) Ismail Demir and three of his men last month regarding the purchase of the S-400.

"We want to solve problems through dialogue. If the US side wants a solution, a solution can be found by working at a technical level," he said.

Russia's S-400 Triumf. (Source: wikimedia commons)

Turkey itself bought the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, to meet its need for an adequate air defense system. Where, Turkey cannot get air defense systems from NATO member countries with satisfactory conditions.

Meanwhile, the United States objected to this purchase, as the S-400 posed a threat to F-35 fighter jets and other NATO defense systems.

It is known, the S-400 Triumf or in the list of NATO's Russian arsenal called the SA-21 Gowler, is an anti-air missile defense system developed from the S = 300 Okleh Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureu.

Developed with a mobile system that makes it easy to move around, the S-400 has a range of up to 400 kilometers, with an altitude of up to 35 kilometers and is capable of destroying 36 targets at the same time.