ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reaffirmed his country’s purchase of a Russian-made missile defense system.
In spite of repeated warnings from the United States, Erdogan said Friday that deliveries of the S-400 system will begin in July.
On Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Turkey was risking its NATO membership and its participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
Advertisement - story continues below
The Turkish president said they had offered to also buy the U.S.-made Patriot system but that the U.S. offer was not as favorable as Russia’s.
The U.S. and other NATO allies have said the S-400s cannot be operable alongside other allied systems and that their use in Turkey could jeapordize F-35s security.
TRENDING: Before His First Day Is Out, Biden Nukes 8,000 Union Jobs
Erdogan also said deliveries of F-35s were continuing and Turkish pilots were being trained.
The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.