Turkey’s FM: NATO countries reject purchase of S-400 defence systems from Russia

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that NATO countries strongly reject Ankara’s purchase of S-400 air defence systems from Russia.

“We need air defence systems, we cannot buy them from our allies, therefore we have to buy them from other countries,” the minister said during a press conference yesterday.

“Turkey wants to protect its airspace, because there are very serious threats,” he added.

The minister explained that Turkey is working with Italy and France on joint production and transfer of technology, stressing that there is a great partnership with Italy in the field of defence industries and that Rome does not consider Ankara as a competitor, but as a partner.

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The foreign minister stressed that Turkey is not the first country to purchase the S-400 air defence systems where Greece has similar systems.

He denied the views that Turkey has shifted from Europe and approached Russia, stressing that Ankara has no problems with European countries.