Turkey to buy S-400 from Russia: Minister

ANKARA

Turkey will cooperate with France and Italy on developing a national missile defense system project, Defense Minister Fikri Işık said on July 4, adding that the focus was on “development of the systems” rather than purchasing.

The country will meet its immediate demands by buying S-400 systems from Russia, he underlined. 

“In the framework of our project to develop our national defense system project, we will cooperate with France and Italy. This decision has already been taken. We are now in talks with the U.S. to cooperate in this area as well,” Işık said in an interview on state broadcaster TRT Haber, as quoted by Reuters.

“We will, however, meet our immediate demands by buying the S-400 systems, and developing our own national air and missile defense systems,” he added. 

“All technical work is completed, and we have arrived at the final decision point on buying S-400 systems from Russia,” Işık said.

He added that the financial side of issue is being negotiated right now and the final decision could be taken within the next few days. 

Russian Presidential Adviser for Military and Technical Cooperation Vladimir Kozhin said last week that Russia’s contract with Turkey on the delivery of S-400 long-range air defense missile systems has been agreed, while the issue of loan provision has yet to be settled.