JAKARTA - Turkey does not intend to reverse its decision on the purchase and use of Russia's S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters aboard his plane returning from the United States on Thursday.
“I cannot say that Turkish-American relations are living through a healthy phase. Why? Look, we bought F-35s (US fifth generation fighters), but they didn't ship to us. America should first deal with this situation instead of making excuses to us, referring to (the problem with its compatibility with) the S-400," President Erdogan quoted TASS as saying from Daily Sabah on September 23.
"Of course, we will do everything necessary, based on international law. For us, the work with the S-400 has been completed and we will not back down. The United States must understand this," President Erdogan stressed.
Moscow and Ankara signed an agreement in 2017 on the delivery of Russian-made S-400 air defense missile systems to Turkey, making it the first NATO member state to purchase this air defense missile system from Russia.
Ankara's decision to buy the Russian-made system angered the United States and NATO. So far, Washington has not abandoned its efforts to get Turkey to give up Russian air defense systems.
Meanwhile, Turkey did not succumb to US pressure and said it would keep the S-400 system. Washington has responded by excluding Ankara from the US program to develop a fifth-generation F-35 fighter-bomber.
Turkish President Erdogan vowed in October last year that Ankara would not give up the S-400 system, despite pressure from Washington.
To note, the Russian S-400 'Triumf' (NATO version: SA-21 Growler) is the newest long and medium-range surface-to-air missile system that entered service in 2007. The system is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles. , can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can strike targets at a distance of up to 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km under intensive enemy fire and interference.
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