Turkey determined to negotiate with Russia for second S-400 batch in January

Turkey’s President has announced that Turkey and Russia are scheduled to hold talks on the purchase of a second batch of S-400, later this month. As known from earlier developments this issue has been developed quite problematic regarding relations between US and Turkey.

On the other hand President Erdogan also described the US approach to Turkey on F-35 fighter jets as a “serious mistake” and added he hoped US would take steps in the positive direction to secure Turkey’s role in the F-35 jet program after US President-elect Joe Biden has taken office.

In his statement Erdogan said, “We have completed the work on the delivery of the first batch of S-400, now regarding the second regiment our dialogue with Russia is continuing.”

To remind, Washington had imposed long-awaited sanctions on Turkey’s defense industry over its purchase of S-400 missile defense systems from Moscow, last month. In fact, the US had already removed Turkey from the F35 program in which Turkey was considered to be a very important partner.

Regarding the S-400 issue and why the US is so disturbed about the purchase of concerned package by Turkey, Washington says the S-400s pose a threat to F-35 fighter jets and NATO’s broader defense systems. Turkey denies this, saying that the S-400s will not be integrated into NATO and that it is a necessity to purchase them because it cannot provide air defense systems on satisfactory terms from any NATO ally.