His comments will raise eyebrows in the West and especially in the United States, after Washington slapped sanctions on Turkey last year over its multi-billion-dollar purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system.
The US also expelled Turkey from the F-35 programme under which Western allies produce the next-generation fighter jet’s parts and secure its early purchasing rights.
Ankara was expecting as many as 100 of the stealth fighter jets and multiple Turkish suppliers were involved in the construction.
Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to the S-400, vowing Ankara “would not take a step back” from the purchase, but called on the US to either give the planes Turkey ordered or return its $1.4 billion payment.
Relations between Turkey and the US are strained and Erdogan admitted last week that his personal ties with US President Joe Biden had “not gotten off to a good start”.
See also:
–US-Turkey Tensions Will Only Worsen If The Status-Quo Remains
–Turkey Interested In Russian Fighter Jets And Submarines, Despite NATO Ties
–Greece Signs Mutual Defense Treaty With France As Tensions Rise With Neighboring Turkey
–Why India’s Arms Deals With Russia Are About To Become A Headache For Biden
–A $30 Million US Army Command Hub In Defense Bill As Military Steps Up Presence In Poland