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| Turkey’s move to buy S-400 anti-aircraft system from Russia is due to America's refusal to sell Ankara Patriots, Erdogan explains | Turkey’s move to buy S-400 anti-aircraft system from Russia is due to America's refusal to sell Ankara Patriots, Erdogan explains |
| (21 days later) | |
| Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems has nothing to do with undermining NATO, but was the logical result of Washington refusing to allow Ankara to purchase the American-made analog, the Patriot system. | Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems has nothing to do with undermining NATO, but was the logical result of Washington refusing to allow Ankara to purchase the American-made analog, the Patriot system. |
| That’s according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who told The New York Times that Ankara has the right to choose who to buy arms from. | That’s according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who told The New York Times that Ankara has the right to choose who to buy arms from. |
| “We buy our own weapons,” Erdogan said, explaining that both the NATO secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, and former President Donald J. Trump had backed Turkey’s right to make its own choices. However, had Washington sold Turkey a Patriot missile defense system, Erdogan “would not have had to buy S-400s,” he explained. | “We buy our own weapons,” Erdogan said, explaining that both the NATO secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, and former President Donald J. Trump had backed Turkey’s right to make its own choices. However, had Washington sold Turkey a Patriot missile defense system, Erdogan “would not have had to buy S-400s,” he explained. |
| Like the Patriot, the S-400 is a mobile anti-aircraft weapon system, once described by The Economist as “one of the best” currently in production. | Like the Patriot, the S-400 is a mobile anti-aircraft weapon system, once described by The Economist as “one of the best” currently in production. |
| Despite being a member of the US-led NATO military bloc, Turkey has looked to Russia on many occasions for support. Moscow and Ankara have a complicated relationship marked both by regular disagreements and cooperation. For example, despite the sale of S-400s, they are currently on opposite sides of the Syrian civil war, where Moscow has backed President Bashar Assad. | Despite being a member of the US-led NATO military bloc, Turkey has looked to Russia on many occasions for support. Moscow and Ankara have a complicated relationship marked both by regular disagreements and cooperation. For example, despite the sale of S-400s, they are currently on opposite sides of the Syrian civil war, where Moscow has backed President Bashar Assad. |
| On Wednesday, Erdogan met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi, on the Black Sea coast. Just a few days prior, the Turkish leader told journalists in Istanbul that he was looking to build ties with Moscow after disappointing talks with US President Joe Biden at the UN. | On Wednesday, Erdogan met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi, on the Black Sea coast. Just a few days prior, the Turkish leader told journalists in Istanbul that he was looking to build ties with Moscow after disappointing talks with US President Joe Biden at the UN. |
| “In the discussions with Mr. Biden that I’d been anticipating, there wasn’t the desired outcome,” he said. “As two NATO countries, we need to be at a different point.” | “In the discussions with Mr. Biden that I’d been anticipating, there wasn’t the desired outcome,” he said. “As two NATO countries, we need to be at a different point.” |
| In particular, Erdogan accused Washington of not doing enough to battle terrorism. | In particular, Erdogan accused Washington of not doing enough to battle terrorism. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
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