Turkey to look for alternatives if US doesn't deliver F-35s

ANKARA

Turkey's foreign minister says his country could look "elsewhere" if the U.S. doesn't deliver F-35 fighter jets.

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also said in an interview with private NTV television on April 10 that Turkey could consider acquiring more Russian-made S-400s or other systems to meet urgent needs if it can't purchase U.S. Patriot systems.

Turkey's moves to buy the Russian S-400 technology have heightened tensions with Washington.

Çavuşoğlu said: "If F-35s are not delivered, I would be placed in a position to buy the planes I need elsewhere."

He added that a new U.S. offer to sell Patriots was "more rational" than a previous offer, but still didn't meet Turkey's expectations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later on April 10 said Russia was "open" to a second purchase.

"Russia has the relevant capabilities, technological skills," he said.

"And of course Russia seeks to expand military and technical cooperation. It's a completely normal process."